KAGUYA Relay Satellite separated and new images
Tue Oct 9, 2007 at 08:42 UTC
JAXA has performed the separation operation of one of the onboard baby satellites. The Relay Satellite (Rstar) was released at 0:36 UTC on October 9. Both KAGUYA and Rstar are confirmed to be in good health.
The small 53kg, 1 meter by 1 meter Rstar satellite was released from the main KAGUYA spacecraft. It can observe the magnetic field on the backside of the Moon. Rstar will observe Moon's gravity field more accurately by using a method called "Radio Interference" with the other baby satellite, the VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometer).
Image Credit: JAXA
Before separation. On the left is Rstar and on the right is the VRAD satellite.
Image Credit: JAXA
After separation. Rstar has been released and moving toward the upper left of the image. The right one, the VRAD satellite, is scheduled to be released on October 12.
Image Credit: JAXA
The lower right dark area is the west rim of Oceanus Procellarum. The image was taken by the high-gain antenna monitor camera at an altitude of about 1,500 km, around 05:50 UTC on October 5.
Image Credit: JAXA
Almost the same area as the previous image, but closer to the Moon. The image was taken by the high-gain antenna monitor camera at an altitude of about 1,200 km, around 06:00 UTC on October 5.
Image Credit: JAXA
A boundary in the lower left is the line between the area that receives sunshine and the shaded area at around 80° north latitude. It was too dark to observe the North Pole. The image was taken by the high-gain antenna monitor camera at an altitude of about 800 km, around 06:10 UTC on October 5.
| Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | |
 |
More on • KAGUYA |
