Japan's space agency has successfully launched its first lunar probe on a mission to explore the moon. A rocket carrying the orbiter blasted off from the space centre on the remote southern island of Tanegashima. Over the course of a year, the orbiter will gather data on the moon's origin and evolution. Japanese scientists say it is the most complex lunar mission since Nasa's Apollo programme in the 1960s and 70s, when astronauts walked on the moon.
Footage of the launch carried live over the Internet showed the rocket racing upward through slightly hazy skies to the southeast. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the craft's engines and navigation systems appeared to be operating normally.
"We're very pleased with how the flight is proceeding so far. The satellite has separated from the rocket as expected" - JAXA spokesman Hiroshi Sekine.
KAGUYA (SELENE) will begin a lunar transfer manoeuvre in about 2 days time, and 17 days later it will start Lunar Orbit Insertion manoeuvres. KAGUYA (SELENE) should achieve lunar orbit at T plus 24 days.