Satellites and Spacecraft > Lunar and Planetary Exploration Spacecraft > Lunar Exploration Satellite "LUNAR-A"
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LUNAR-A was the first Japanese lunar exploration mission planned to be launched in 2004. Its mission plan was to explore the internal structure of the Moon by two penetrators (spear-type instruments) to form an observation network of seismometers and thermal flowmeters. The development of the penetrators, however, took a great deal of time, even though the technology was almost complete. The fact that the electronic components used on the mothership to carry the penetrators were obsolete and adhesives hardened were also problems. Thus, regrettably, we had to cancel the LUNAR-A project in early 2007. Incidentally, Russia later contacted us about the possibility of using the penetrators designed for LUNAR-A on its explorer. Talks on this matter are in process.