The Lunar-A probe, originally scheduled to lift off in 1995, was to plant two seismic sensors on the lunar surface, but development of the penetrator probes took so long the mission's mother ship fell into disrepair.Īn ongoing mission to bring back the first samples from an asteroid may be lost in space. In January, JAXA gave up on a mission to land on the moon's surface. The other three satellites were functioning normally, but the failure left its multibillion-dollar, long-awaited spy network with a big hole.Ī mission to Mars had to be abandoned two years ago after the probe moved off course. Last month, one of its four spy satellites became unresponsive due to apparent electrical problems. Japan, meanwhile, has met with one setback after another. The satellite is the fourth China has launched as part of the Compass navigation system, which is expected to be operational in 2008. This year, China also plans to launch a probe that will orbit the moon.Įarlier this month, the country launched a Long March 3-A rocket that sent a navigation satellite into orbit as part of its effort to build a global positioning system. A second mission in 2005 put two astronauts into orbit for a week, and a third manned launch is planned for next year. and the Soviet Union.Ĭhina launched its first manned space flight in 2003. Now it is struggling to keep up in the most heated space race since the Cold War competition between the U.S. Japan leaped ahead of Asia by launching the region's first satellite in 1972. To raise public awareness, JAXA is conducting a "Wish Upon the Moon" campaign that allows people to send brief messages up with the orbiter. The mission is a stepping stone in Japan's plan to more aggressively pursue space objectives - including a lunar landing and, possibly, manned missions in space. "This mission will involve observation of the whole moon, not just parts of it," said JAXA spokesman Satoki Kurokawa. Researchers will use data gathered by the probes to study the moon's origin and evolution. It involves placing a main satellite in orbit at an altitude of about 60 miles and deploying two smaller satellites in polar orbits. JAXA says the SELENE project is the largest lunar mission since the U.S. Japan's space agency JAXA announced this month that the much-delayed SELENE probe will be launched in August aboard an H-2A rocket, the mainstay of Japan's space program. The other goal is to catch up with China, the new leader in Asia's space race. TOKYO - Japan is set to launch its first lunar orbiter this summer, but exploring the moon is just part of the mission.
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