STUDY STATUS OF JAPANESE MOON LANDER SELENE-2 IN 2012

摘要

JAXA is planning moon exploration missions following Kaguya (SELENE), whose missions include technology demonstrations,scientific observations, investigations for future moon utilization, and social or political purposes. SELENE-2 is the first Japanese moonlander. Its phase-A study started in the summer of 2007. It will demonstrate precision landing, hazard avoidance, surface mobility, andnight survival technologies. In-situ geological and geophysical observations will contribute to improve the knowledge on the origin andthe evolution of the moon. Investigations of surface environment and possible in-situ resource will be useful for future humanexploration. In this paper, recent progress of research and development for SELENE-2 is presented.