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# Moon Monday #123: Views of Luna from a Korean craft, mission updates, and more
- URL: https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue-123/
- Published: 2023-04-17T15:47:40.000Z
- Updated: 2025-08-22T06:27:04.000Z
- Author: Jatan Mehta
- Tags: Moon Monday

*I’m happy to share that* [*The Orbital Index*](https://orbitalindex.com/) *is continuing their sponsorship of* [*Moon Monday*](https://jatan.space/tag/moon-monday/) *for another year!* 🚀

*Considering that the newsletter was part of my inspiration for starting Moon Monday,* [*Andrew*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cantino) *and* [*Ben*](https://www.linkedin.com/in/blachman)*’s support continues to be a gratifying validation of my efforts to cover in context all major global exploration developments in our grand return to the Moon. As an aside, The Orbital Index remains my favorite technical space newsletter, and I genuinely think the space nerd in you might enjoy perusing* [*its archive*](https://orbitalindex.com/archive)*.* 🛰️

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## Science mode is ON for the Moonbound KPLO

South Korea’s first lunar orbiter [KPLO](https://jatan.space/kplo/) formally started its one-year primary mission to study the Moon’s surface in February, after mission operators had completed the [commissioning](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8623&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) and [testing](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8597&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) phases of the orbiter’s instruments and subsystems. The mission’s lead institute, Korean Aerospace Research Institute ([KARI](https://www.kari.re.kr/eng.do)), has [provided updates](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8650&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) on the some of the preliminary scientific activities from KPLO’s [four indigenously built instruments](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc%5Fsdat/kplo.htm).

In March, KPLO’s highest resolution imager—which does 2.5 meters/pixel best case—[photographed](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8650&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) several pre-identified places including the farside craters of [Tsiolkovskiy](https://quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/projections?camera=-1414321.771%2C1745837.301%2C-844417.384%2C6.283%2C-1.571%2C0.000%2C2400269.708%2C60.000&id=lroc&showTerrain=true&queryOpts=N4XyA&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEBmZcAsjYIHYFcAbAyAbwF8BdC0ypcOKbRFOOZLRfImqnioA&proj=22) and [Szilard M](https://quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/projections?camera=-495523.212%2C1749911.889%2C1031616.634%2C6.283%2C-1.571%2C0.000%2C2090925.095%2C60.000&id=lroc&showTerrain=true&queryOpts=N4XyA&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEBmZcAsjYIHYFcAbAyAbwF8BdC0ypcOKbRFOOZLRfImqnioA&proj=22). Note that South Korea will use images from this very instrument to help identify good landing site candidates for its upcoming [fully indigenous Moon lander](https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue-93/), which is targeting launch in [2032](https://spacenews.com/134853-2).

![](https://jatan.space/content/images/2024/02/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f30f75bea-218a-47c0-be31-26dde7f1b645_5880x1400-jpeg.jpg)

A spectacular view of the Tsiolkovskiy crater on our Moon’s farside, as imaged by South Korea’s KPLO spacecraft. [Credit: KARI](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8650&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=)

KPLO’s unique wide-angle polarimetric camera, which determines the size and composition of surface materials based on how light reflects and scatters off of them, has [captured](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8655&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) polarization data of various areas. This capability will be [particularly helpful](https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2021/pdf/2430.pdf) to understand the origin(s) of the enigmatic bright features on our Moon called [swirls](https://jatan.space/swirls-on-the-moon/).

The orbiter’s gamma-ray spectrometer, which looks at highly energetic gamma rays released from the Moon’s surface to determine its elements, has [begun taking measurements](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8657&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) as well. The [same goes](https://www.kari.re.kr/kplo/danuri/news/newsView.do?nttId=8656&pageIndex=1&searchCnd=&searchWrd=) for KPLO’s magnetometer, whose datasets should help us better understand our Moon’s localized magnetic features, including swirls, and in turn [our Moon’s evolution](https://jatan.space/the-two-faced-moon/). KARI plans to release a bunch of datasets from all of these four instruments by end of April.

Relatedly, we’ve already discussed previously how NASA’s ultra-sensitive [ShadowCam](https://shadowcam.sese.asu.edu/about) imager onboard KPLO has initiated its [uniquely impactful observations](https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue-110/) concerning [permanently shadowed regions](https://jatan.space/permanently-shadowed-regions-on-the-moon/) on the Moon’s poles.

[A peek at the Moon’s actual dark side 🌑](https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue-110/)

## ispace to attempt a Moon landing next week

![Illustration shows a four-legged lander on a largely plain lunar landscape, with Earth hanging in the pitch black sky.](https://jatan.space/content/images/2024/02/https-3a-2f-2fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2fbb2a3a83-d473-430f-ad2b-7b2e79619a6f_2096x1078-jpeg.jpg)

Illustration of the Hakuto-R lander on the Moon. [Credit: ispace](https://ispace-inc.com/project)

ispace Japan’s [first lunar lander](https://jatan.space/ispace-japan-m1-moon-mission/) Hakuto-R will attempt a remotely-initiated, hour-long autonomous landing on [April 25](https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=4577) starting from 15:40 UTC. The target landing site lies within the Atlas crater at [47.5°N, 44.4°E](https://quickmap.lroc.asu.edu/query?extent=40.2145798%2C44.1202909%2C48.4074855%2C48.7594362&id=lroc&showTerrain=true&queryOpts=N4IgLghgRiBcIBMKRAXyA&features=44.40014864%2C47.49964213&layers=NrBsFYBoAZIRnpEBmZcAsjYIHYFcAbAyAbwF8BdC0ypcOKbRFaaKBJ-Im64NOZFkRdi5KjwpA&proj=16). Hakuto-R has spent almost a month [orbiting our Moon](https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=4460) at this point, and ispace [says](https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=4611) the lander attained a 100-kilometer circular orbit on April 13\. This orbit, necessary to begin the lunar surface descent, was achieved over weeks from the previously elliptical orbit of 100 x 6,000 kilometers. In case ispace doesn’t initiate the lander’s descent on April 25, there are backup opportunities on April 26, May 1, and May 3.

Relatedly, ispace Japan [got listed](https://ir.ispace-inc.com/stock) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on April 12, under ticker code 9348\. Nikkei Asia [reports](https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense-Industries/Japan-s-ispace-shares-left-untraded-during-market-debut) how the company’s shares soared by 370% on the opening day but that they remained un-traded regardless. Jeff Foust has [some interesting notes](https://spacenews.com/first-ispace-mission-ready-for-lunar-landing-as-company-stock-starts-trading) on ispace’s financial details, one being that ispace’s sales are increasing but the overall loss growing year-over-year.

If you’d like an overview of all of ispace’s lunar activities across its presence in Japan, Europe, and the US, check out [my article](https://jatan.space/ispace-japan-m1-moon-mission/) covering the company’s first Moon mission, future ones, technology work, and business ambitions.

[ispace’s Moon missions and ambitions 🌗](https://jatan.space/ispace-japan-m1-moon-mission/)

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*Many thanks to* [*Epsilon3*](https://www.epsilon3.io) *and* [*The Orbital Index*](https://orbitalindex.com) *for sponsoring this week’s Moon Monday.*

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## More mission updates

![](https://jatan.space/content/images/2024/02/https-3a-2f-2fsubstack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com-2fpublic-2fimages-2f93f957f3-b279-4b3b-837e-68af5437a1e5_2400x1800-jpeg.jpg)

The second SLS rocket upper stage is seen here at the Delta Operations Center to prepare it for the Artemis II mission. [Credit: ULA](https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/icps-2-ula-begins-readying-upper-stage-for-artemis-ii-launch)

- ISRO and NASA successfully tested [data flow](https://twitter.com/nascom1/status/1647047848884850688) between India’s soon-launching [Chandrayaan 3](https://jatan.space/isro-chandrayaan-3-prelaunch-info/) Moon lander and the US [Deep Space Network](https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/scan/services/networks/deep%5Fspace%5Fnetwork/about) (DSN). This is [part of](https://www.isro.gov.in/sites/default/files/article-files/monthly-summary-of-department-of-space-last-1-year/february-2022-monthly%5Fsummary.pdf) a February 2022 agreement to have DSN support communications for the mission. ESA’s [Estrack network](https://www.esa.int/Enabling%5FSupport/Operations/ESA%5FGround%5FStations/Estrack%5Fground%5Fstations) will also provide [backup communications](https://www.esa.int/Enabling%5FSupport/Operations/ESA%5FGround%5FStations/ESA%5Fsupports%5FIndian%5Flunar%5Fand%5Fsolar%5Fmissions), as part of a broader [mutual support agreement](https://www.esa.int/Enabling%5FSupport/Operations/ESA%5FGround%5FStations/ESA%5Fand%5FIndian%5Fspace%5Fagency%5FISRO%5Fagree%5Fon%5Ffuture%5Fcooperation) with the Indian space agency. ISRO uses its own [Indian Deep Space Network](https://www.isro.gov.in/indian-space-science-data-centre-issdc-gateway-to-indias-space-science-data) as a primary means for communicating with its planetary spacecraft but partners with other space agencies for backup and auxiliary options. India’s [Chandrayaan 1](https://jatan.space/chandrayaan-1/) and [2](https://jatan.space/chandrayaan-2-is-creating-the-highest-resolution-map-of-the-moon/) orbiters as well as [Mangalyaan](https://jatan.space/reviewing-mission-mangalyaan/) have had DSN support too.
- The [blowing up](https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1646572389193625600) of a test [Centaur V](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/49720321573/in/album-72157690220351103) upper stage, a key element of ULA’s upcoming [Vulcan rocket](https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/vulcan-centaur), is bound to delay [Astrobotic’s first Moon lander](https://www.astrobotic.com/astrobotic-awarded-79-5-million-contract-to-deliver-14-nasa-payloads-to-the-moon) which was previously targeting a [May 4](https://spacenews.com/ula-announces-may-launch-of-first-vulcan) launch on the rocket. This lander, alongside that of [Intuitive Machines](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/first-commercial-moon-delivery-assignments-to-advance-artemis), will be the first two missions part of NASA’s [CLPS program](https://jatan.space/nasa-clps-moon-missions/) aimed at regularly, commercially sending payloads, instruments, and hardware to our Moon.
- [More](https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/nasa-connects-all-major-structures-of-artemis-ii-moon-rocket-core-stage.html) and [more](https://blogs.esa.int/orion/2023/04/05/dropping-the-fat-beats-with-d-fat) hardware continues to come online for NASA’s [Artemis II](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-first-flight-with-crew-important-step-on-long-term-return-to-the-moon-missions-to) mission to fly [four astronauts](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-names-astronauts-to-next-moon-mission-first-crew-under-artemis) around our Moon and back. The ULA-built Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage [(ICPS)](https://www.ulalaunch.com/interim-cryogenic-propulsion-stage-%28icps%29), which forms the second stage of the mission’s [SLS](https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/overview.html) rocket, is [now being tested](https://blog.ulalaunch.com/blog/icps-2-ula-begins-readying-upper-stage-for-artemis-ii-launch) by the company before delivery to NASA. After launch, which NASA aims to be in November 2024, the ICPS will fire its engine to push the connected [Orion spacecraft](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/meet-nasa-s-orion-spacecraft) and astronauts within out of Earth orbit and on the path to the Moon. During the mission the ICPS will also be a target object for Orion to test rendezvous and proximity operations with, in preparation for the future [Artemis III](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis-iii) crewed mission.
- On April 13, Draper [said](https://spacenews.com/draper-completes-initial-milestones-for-nasa-clps-mission) it has successfully completed preliminary reviews for [its first CLPS mission](https://jatan.space/moon-monday-issue-87/), which is targeting a 2025 launch of the company-led lander aspiring a touchdown on the Moon’s farside.

**Note:* I’ve again updated my* [*CLPS missions page*](https://jatan.space/nasa-clps-moon-missions/) *with the latest information and links.*

## More Moon

- With a [scrubbed launch](https://spacenews.com/spacex-scrubs-first-starship-launch-attempt) today, SpaceX will target [first launch](https://everydayastronaut.com/starship-superheavy-orbital-flight-test) of its fully reusable Starship Super Heavy launch vehicle sometime later this week. A successful flight of the both the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage will mark a key milestone towards [landing the first Artemis astronauts](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis-iii) on the Moon since NASA has [so far](https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-lays-out-revised-approach-for-future-human-lunar-landing-systems) selected Starship’s lunar variant as the primary lander for the mission.
- With a slightly increased budget of [$3.1 billion](https://tass.com/science/1603323) this fiscal year, Roscosmos intends to [accelerate](https://tass.com/science/1603347) its lunar missions and ambitions. To that end, the agency is [working on](https://tass.com/science/1602877) getting its government to approve a Russian Moon program draft, which aspirationally includes crewed cosmonaut landings. Now this isn’t the first time we’re hearing of such a goal but one thing is clear: The fate of Russia’s long-delayed [Luna 25 robotic Moon lander](https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2021/pdf/2032.pdf), currently scheduled for a [July 13](https://tass.com/science/1580885) launch, will shape the scope of the country’s future Moon missions.

## Events

- This year’s [Space Resources Week](https://www.spaceresourcesweek.lu/programme-2023) event is from April 19–21\. It will focus on international collaborations and research projects on space resources—including that of the Moon—as well as on upcoming resource-extraction technology demonstrators and their legal aspects. Online attendance is free.
- NASA has [two publicly accessible Artemis briefings](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-participate-in-space-symposium-discuss-moon-to-mars) on April 18 and 19 as part of the otherwise paid-only [38th Space Symposium](https://www.spacesymposium.org).
- The Indian institute of [ICTS](https://www.icts.res.in/about/icts) has organized a [Lunar Gravitational-Wave Detection](https://www.icts.res.in/discussion-meeting/lgwd) meet from April 17–20 to discuss the science and technology of future gravitational wave detections from the Moon as well as ongoing tangential lunar exploration efforts.