KAGUYA lunar explorer (aka SELENE) Options

[Rakhir]

SELENE has now a nickname : KAGUYA.
http://www.jaxa.jp/topics/2007/06_e.html

Edit :
And Emily searched for the origin of the name
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00000996/

[PhilHorzempa]

We are now about 5 days away from LOI for Kaguya. I want to note
that we are in the last few days of an historic period - a time when
there are no active man-made devices operating on, or near, the Moon.
Once Kaguya enters lunar orbit, I believe that we will be starting an era
when there will ALWAYS be a functioning representative of mankind at
the Moon, either manned or unmanned. We are about to enter a new epoch,
one in which mankind has a permanent presence at the Moon. Unless something
drastic occurs, I foresee no gaps in this lunar presence for the next several
centuries, perhaps for the next several millenia.

It all starts in a few days.

Another Phil

[jabe]

We are about to enter a new epoch, one in which mankind has a permanent presence at the Moon.

What i find amazing is that this can be said for Mars as well, and that started quietly 10 years ago!! I never thought that Surveyor back in '96 would be the start of a continous presence at Mars. If we don't have a rover/satellite/weather station/lander/ etc on Mars running at any one time or another I'd be dissappointed. It is a remarkable time. I teach high school physics and just before the first ISS crew went up I mentioned to my classes that this could be the last time that humans are NOT up in space. I don't think they appreciated what that could mean for them..

I hope that with the Moon being a more "realistic" target, it will get the general public more intrigued and realize that times are changing..how much so we will see... As well This doesn't take into account private space tourism.. Virgin galatic, bigelow etc..

Can't wait for the HD pics to come down of earth rise
Go SELENE!!!
jb