Japan launched the first moon probe

The Japanese space agency successfully launched the country's first moon probe. The H-2A rocket carrying the ship took off on the southern island of Tanegashima.

Within a year, the probe will collect data about the origin and evolution of the moon. Japanese scientists say this is the most complicated mission to explore the moon since the American Apollo program in the 1960s and 1970s.

The 3-ton probe is called Selene, nicknamed Kaguya, the name of a legendary princess, who went to the moon. It will fly around the earth before crossing 380,000 km to reach this celestial body. Along with two smaller ships, Selene will be placed in orbit 100 km from the moon's surface.

The launch plan was delayed for 4 years, due to the incident in 2003, when a satellite failed to separate from the rocket and was detonated.

The probe is launched on Japanese H-2A missiles. (Photo: smh)

T. An