Preliminary Study of the Application of SELENE(KAGUYA) Scientific Data to the Lunar Exploration

Introduction: KAGUYA(SELENE) is the most sophisticated lunar exploration mission in the post-Apollo Era and consists of the main orbiter and two small satellites – the Relay satellite (OKINA) and the VRAD satellite (OUNA). SELENE was successful launched on September 14, 2007 at Tanegashima Space Center of JAXA and it was entered polar orbit with about 100km altitude on October 19, 2007 for observation. SELENE has been in operation from December 21, 2007 after the successful initial check out. SELENE data will be used for studying “lunar origin and evolution” and “exploration” of the Moon and will be archived and distributed in PDS-like format with the descriptions of data format and technical information (data format description is planning to be ready by the launch.) For future lunar exploration, the landing candidate site selection has much effect on exploration strategy and mission planning. Analysis and estimation of assessment factors for each candidate sites will be followed by using SELENE products including mineral composition map, digital elevation model as well as HDTV movies. In addition, SELENE products may be useful for lunar dust study. This paper describes the early feasibility study of SELENE data application to future lunar utilization.