China, Japan ready lunar probes for '07

High-definition
In sketching out its long-range lunar plans, JAXA envisions a “Deep Space Harbor” at the moon. More lunar exploration and possible use of the moon’s resources are also on the agenda.

“For this reason, it has become more important to understand the distribution of the Moon’s vital resources — like water-ice and minerals, so the data acquired by SELENE will play a key role in the study of exploration of the Moon,” Takizawa said.

In addition, SELENE carries a high-definition television camera. It will take a movie of Earth-rise from the Moon’s horizon for broadcasting on Earth, Takizawa pointed out.

Japan’s space program leaders plan to seek a governmental go-ahead to take significant steps toward the utilization of the Moon. Furthermore, JAXA wants to play a role in the implementation of international lunar initiatives.

The looming liftoffs of non-U.S. robotic lunar spacecraft have not gone unnoticed at NASA.

A Global Exploration Strategy was unveiled last month by Shana Dale, NASA Deputy Administrator, at the 2nd Space Exploration Conference in Houston. Six broad themes redefine the space agency’s view that the moon is “much more than a mere destination,” she noted.

Of those themes, Dale highlighted international collaboration, adding that the strategy “has been a work in progress to which more than 1,000 people from around the world and experts of 14 space agencies have contributed.”

In 2007, NASA will initiate “Cycle 2”, a fine-tuning of the lunar architecture, including potential commercial and international involvement, Dale said. A key focus, she continued, will be hammering out a framework that can guide future international coordination and collaboration efforts.

“As we move forward, we will see many different kinds and levels of cooperation that result from this framework. In some cases, international lunar exploration efforts in the future will coalesce around one single, integrated activity, much like the international space station today,” Dale said. “At other times, space agencies may choose to send independent missions to the moon or conduct independent studies while utilizing shared support services.”

Openness and flexibility
Dale noted that independent robotic missions to the Moon exist today. For example, she said, the European Space Agency’s SMART-1 recently completed its Moon orbiting survey work.

“Japan’s SELENE will be the largest lunar mission since Apollo, and there are other planned lunar exploration missions including ones from China and Russia,” Dale advised, as she spotlighted India’s Chandrayaan-1 Moon orbiter that — along with Indian scientific instruments — includes two instruments from Europe and two from the United States.

Meanwhile, work progresses on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, to be launched in October 2008. Dale explained that last November scientists from ESA, India, Japan, Russia, and the United States met at a LRO science meeting.

The potential for cooperation between international lunar missions was discussed, Dale added. Scientists focused on such items as a common coordinate system, standard calibration targets for all lunar missions to observe, telecommunications frequency management, as well as common hardware interfaces to ensure maximum openness and flexibility in the evolving lunar architecture, she said.

“We must maintain and strengthen existing international partnerships and build new ones, to enable a robust space exploration program,” Dale said.

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