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| SELENE-2 | |
|---|---|
| Name | SELENE-2 |
| Names list | Selenological and Engineering Explorer 2 |
| Mission type | Lunar exploration |
| Operator | Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency |
| Mission duration | Planned: 1 year (nominal) |
| Launch date | Planned (postponed) |
| Launch rocket | H-IIA / H3 (proposed) |
| Launch site | Tanegashima Space Center |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, JAXA |
| Mass | ~3,000 kg (wet, proposed) |
| Power | Solar arrays |
SELENE-2 is a proposed Japanese robotic lunar exploration mission developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and industrial partners to follow the lunar orbiter Kaguya (SELENE). The project aimed to deliver an orbiter, lander, and rover to the Moon to advance Japanese capabilities in planetary science, near-surface geophysics, and sample return technology. Development drew on experience from Kaguya (SELENE), collaborative frameworks with NASA, and international lunar exploration trends led by agencies such as the China National Space Administration and Roscosmos.
The program originated after the success of Kaguya (SELENE) in 2007, when JAXA prioritized follow-on activities in response to strategic reviews by the Science Council of Japan and funding deliberations within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan). Early industrial studies involved Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NEC, and university teams from Tokyo Institute of Technology, University of Tokyo, and Kyoto University. International coordination considered data-sharing with European Space Agency, sample-analysis partnerships with Smithsonian Institution, and landing-site assessments using datasets from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Chandrayaan-1.
Primary goals included detailed stratigraphic mapping of lunar regolith, in-situ geophysical experiments, technology demonstration for soft landing, and preparation for potential sample return missions. Specific objectives targeted characterization of the lunar crust near proposed landing sites—leveraging comparative science with datasets from Apollo program missions, sample-context comparisons to Lunar Prospector findings, and volatile assessments informed by LCROSS and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter observations. Technology goals emphasized precision landing, rover autonomy influenced by work from MER (Mars Exploration Rover), and radio science experiments akin to GRAIL.
The architecture proposed an integrated orbiter, descent module (lander), and small rover derived from technology demonstrations by Hayabusa2 and Akatsuki. Payload concepts included a synthetic aperture radar influenced by designs used on RADARSAT missions, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer similar to instruments on Lunar Prospector and Chang'e 1, a panoramic multispectral camera suite comparable to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, and a seismometer package inspired by the instrumentation deployed during the Apollo program. The rover design borrowed autonomy concepts from Sojourner and MER, and the sample handling and potential return capsule drew on experience from Hayabusa and Hayabusa2 reentry systems.
Initial plans considered launches from Tanegashima Space Center using an H-IIA or the developmental H3 (rocket), with trajectory options including direct translunar injection and Earth–Moon ballistic capture pathways comparable to missions by SMART-1 and Chang'e 5-T1. Mission planners evaluated lunar insertion epochs influenced by orbital mechanics studies conducted during Kaguya (SELENE) and gravity-assist strategies referenced in analyses from Deep Space 1 and BepiColombo mission teams. Launch manifesting was subject to coordination with Japanese government budget cycles and international tracking support from networks such as the European Space Operations Centre and NASA Deep Space Network.
Operational scenarios foresaw cruise, lunar orbit insertion, landing site reconnaissance from orbit, descent, surface operations (lander and rover), and possible sample caching or return acquisition. Surface operations were planned to include long-duration seismology similar to the long-lived stationkeeping of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and extended rover traverses inspired by Opportunity (rover). Mission timeline planning incorporated contingency modes derived from analyses of Chang'e 3 and Venera descent challenges, with ground segment responsibilities split between JAXA control centers and university research teams, and data processing centers modeled after those supporting Kibo (module) experiments on the International Space Station.
Although full implementation has been delayed and mission elements remain at the proposal or study stage, the program influenced lunar science through precursor analyses, landing-site selection studies, and instrument maturation. Research outcomes include refined maps of potential landing terrains using datasets from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Kaguya (SELENE), improved models of lunar crustal composition building on Apollo program sample analyses and Lunar Prospector geochemistry, and technology-readiness reports for small-body and lunar surface operations that reference lessons learned from Hayabusa missions and Chang'e lunar landings.
The program contributed to workforce development in Japanese planetary science, spurred collaborations between JAXA, Japanese universities, and international agencies, and informed planning for subsequent concepts such as proposed sample-return initiatives and crewed lunar support studies. Technology and science heritage from the project feed ongoing missions and proposals influenced by global efforts including Artemis program, Chandrayaan-3, and coordination frameworks like the International Space Exploration Coordination Group. Continued interest in lunar exploration by agencies such as NASA, ESA, CNSA, and Roscosmos sustains the relevance of the mission's technical studies and scientific priorities.
Category:Proposed space probes Category:Lunar exploration missions Category:Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency spacecraft