South Korea’s first-ever lunar orbiter Danuri has despatched black-and-white pictures of the Moon’s floor and Earth, the nationwide space heart stated Tuesday.
Danuri—a portmanteau of the Korean phrases for “Moon” and “take pleasure in”—was launched on a SpaceX rocket from america in August 2022 and entered lunar orbit final month.
Its photographs—taken between December 24 and January 1—present the lunar surface and Earth, and had been shot from lower than 120 kilometers (75 miles) over the Moon, the Korea Aerospace Analysis Institute (KARI) stated in a press release.
The pictures and movies will likely be “used to pick out potential websites for a Moon touchdown in 2032,” it added.
Danuri is circling the Moon each two hours, the middle stated.
The orbiter will start its scientific mission subsequent month, which incorporates mapping and analyzing lunar terrain, and measuring magnetic energy and gamma rays.
It can additionally check experimental “space web” expertise by transmitting pictures and movies to Earth.
President Yoon Suk-yeol has hailed Danuri’s achievements as a “historic second” within the nation’s space program.
South Korea has laid out bold plans for outer space, together with touchdown spacecraft on the Moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045.
© 2023 AFP
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South Korea’s lunar orbiter sends pictures of Earth, Moon (2023, January 3)
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