The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) performed the separation operation of one of the onboard baby satellites, the Relay Satellite (Rstar) of the "KAGUYA" (SELENE). The Rstar was released at 9:36 a.m. on October 9 (Japan Standard Time, JST). The KAGUYA lunar explorer was launched via the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13 (H-IIA F13) on September 14, 2007 (JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center. Both the KAGUYA and Rstar are confirmed to be in good health.
The Relay Satellite (Rstar) is an onboard baby satellite of the KAGUYA and is the first satellite able to observe the magnetic field of the backside of the Moon. The Rstar will observe the Moon’s gravity field more accurately by using a method called "radio interference" with the other baby satellite, the VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometer) satellite. Plus, the KAGUYA’s onboard camera is able to use the high-gain antenna to capture images of the Moon’s surface. The KAGUYA will further lower the altitude of its apocynthion to separate the other baby satellite, the VRAD satellite.
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