Muses home
topic index
Program: Muses. Objective: Planetary. Type: Lunar. Overview: Mu Space Engineering Satellites (launched on Japanes Mu series launch vehicles) pioneered new satellite technologies, including lunar flyby interplanetary injection, aerobraking, and large structure deployment.
Major Events:

  • 1990 January 24 - Hagoromo.  Spacecraft: Hagoromo. Mass: 12 kg (26 lb). Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Vehicle: Mu.

    Lunar orbiter ejected from Muses A 3/19/90; contact lost after release; engineering test. Lunar Orbit (Selenocentric).

  • 1990 January 24 - Hiten.  Spacecraft: Hiten. Mass: 185 kg (407 lb). Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Vehicle: Mu.

    MUSES-A was renamed Hiten after launch. It developed of lunar swingby techniques for future missions and ejected a lunar orbiter. Launching organization ISAS. On 1990 Jan 25: Period 6.665 days, inclination 30.63 deg, 262.49 x 286182.72 km. On 1992 Feb 17: Period 4.53 days, inclination 38.90 deg, perilune 2289.67 km, apolune 49013.93 km.

  • 1997 February 12 - Haruka.  Spacecraft: Haruka. Launch Site: Kagoshima. Launch Vehicle: M-V.

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© Mark Wade, 1997 - 2008 except where otherwise noted.