JAPANESE MOON LANDER SELENE-2

摘要

JAXA is planning moon exploration missions following Kaguya (SELENE), whose missions include technology demonstrations, scientific observations, investigations for moon utilization, and social or political purposes. For the first step of moon landing missions, SELENE-2 is planed and phase-A study of it has been conducted since the summer of 2007. SELENE-2 will demonstrate precision landing including hazard avoidance, surface mobility, and night survival technologies. Geological and geophysical observations on the moon surface will improve the knowledge on the origin and the evolution of the moon and also solid planets. Investigations of surface environment and possible in-situ resource will contribute future human exploration. International coordination and contribution are also important aspect of SELENE-2. In this paper, study results of SELENE-2 mission objectives and spacecraft preliminary design are presented.