03/01/2023 1:51 pm (act. 03/01/2023 1:51 pm)
The “Danuri” spacecraft produced excellent black and white images ©APA/AFP
South Korea’s first lunar probe has provided spectacular images of the surface of the moon and Earth. South Korea’s Kari Space Research Institute announced that the probe “Danuri” captured the black-and-white images between December 24 and January 1. They were shot at a distance of 120 kilometers from the moon. South Korea also wants to use the images to identify possible landing sites for a lunar landing in 2032.
According to the South Korean space center, “Danuri” takes two hours to orbit the moon. The probe will begin its actual science mission next month. It will map and analyze the lunar surface and measure magnetic and gamma radiation.
South Korea launched its first self-developed space rocket in June. In August, however, a Falcon 9 rocket from the US private space company SpaceX was used to launch “Danuri” into space. In Asia, China, Japan and India already have advanced space programs. In addition to landing on the Moon in 2032, South Korea already plans a mission to Mars in 2045.