Japan Launches Lunar Explorer

Japan’s 13th H-2A rocket, carrying the lunar explorer “Kaguya,” has been launched at Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture on September 14. With the successful launch of its H-2A rocket, Japan has taken a step ahead of China and India, which have plans to commence their moon exploration projects at the end of 2007 and 2008, respectively. The Japanese lunar explorer will achieve a circular orbit 100 kilometers in altitude and carry out missions to obtain various data for one year starting from this December. Kaguya is the name of the heroine princess in "The Tale of the Bamboo-Cutter," a Japanese fairy tale.