Launch of the SELENE(Kaguya) Mission and their Science Goals

Implementation of Lunar orbiting satellite SELENE(Kaguya) has completed after final integration tests of thermal- vacuum and electromagnetic compatibility in the end of February 2007. Through pre-shipping reviews the satellite was carried to JAXA Tanegashima Space Center. The SELENE(Kaguya) is just being launched in September 2007. The mission has started in 1999 FY as a joint project of ISAS and NASDA, which have been merged into a space agency JAXA in October 2003. The SELENE certainly identified as a JAXA's science mission is operated from the newly installed SOAC (SELENE Operation and data Analysis Center) of Sagamihara/JAXA. The SELENE will be inserted into lunar orbit three weeks after launch using phasing orbit turning around Earth-Moon system. The main satellite will settle into a circular polar orbit with 100km altitude after releasing two sub-satellites in about 40 days after launch. After deploying magnetometer mast and a pair of sounder antenna, initial checks of scientific instruments will be carried for two months. Key questions on lunar science are "gWhat's origin of the Moon?"h, "gHow does the Moon have evolved?"h, and "gWhat history does the lunar environment have passed?"h Science topics to be studied by using fourteen science instruments are surface composition of chemistry and mineralogy, evolution tectonics of surface including subsurface to 5 km depth, gravity field of whole moon and magnetic field distribution for the study on origin and evolution of the Moon. Lunar environment are investigated in observing charged and neutral particles impinged on the surface. High definition TV cameras are also onboard the SELENE for public outreach.