South Korea’s first-ever lunar orbiter Danuri has despatched black-and-white pictures of the Moon’s floor and Earth, the nationwide space middle mentioned Tuesday.
Danuri—a portmanteau of the Korean phrases for “Moon” and “get pleasure from”—was launched on a SpaceX rocket from the USA in August 2022 and entered lunar orbit final month.
Its photos—taken between December 24 and January 1—present the lunar surface and Earth, and have been shot from lower than 120 kilometers (75 miles) over the Moon, the Korea Aerospace Analysis Institute (KARI) mentioned in an announcement.
The photographs and movies might 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 mentioned.
The orbiter will start its scientific mission subsequent month, which incorporates mapping and analyzing lunar terrain, and measuring magnetic energy and gamma rays.
It is going to additionally take a look at experimental “space web” know-how 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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