Portal:Spaceflight/Selected article/Week 20 2008

SELENE (Ancient Greek: Σελήνη, moon), better known in Japan by its nickname Kaguya (かぐや), is the second Japanese lunar orbiter spacecraft. Produced by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science and NASDA (both organisations that are now part of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA), the spacecraft was launched 14 September 2007.

The name stands for Selenological and Engineering Explorer; Selene was a lunar deity in Greek mythology. The orbiter's nickname, Kaguya, which was selected by the general public, derives from the name of a lunar princess in the ancient Japanese folktale The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter.

After the successful release of its sub-satellites Rstar and Vstar, they were named Okina and Ouna, also from folklore. (more...)