Among other spacecrafts and cubesats deployed to space, Japan's EQUULEUS, or EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft, also embarked on an interesting journey across space. While fulfilling its mission, EQUULEUS was able to capture and send some snaps of the distant side of the moon.
According to the Japan News, EQUULEUS was launched just last November 16. The cubesat also started its orbiting upon schedule after it approached the moon.
Through it, the Japanese Space Agency aims to study and understand the earth's surrounding plasma, as noted by IFL Science.
In its close approach to the moon, Japan's EQUULEUS cubesat was able to capture images of the moon's far side.
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How Japan's EQUULEUS Cubesat Took Photos of the Moon's Distant Side
WE DID IT!!
— EQUULEUS (@EQUULEUS_en) November 23, 2022
Successfully photographed the day-night terminator line on the far side of the Moon!!!#EQUULEUS #Artemis @NASAArtemis @JAXA_en pic.twitter.com/xMZUrEtRCc
IFL Science notes that to reach the goal of its deployment, the EQUULEUS satellite has to properly place itself at the L2 or second Lagrangian point in the shared system of the Earth and moon. This specific sweet spot is among five others, where spatial things can move around both the earth and the moon simultaneously. The spot also makes sure that the EQUULUS does not shift around.
The L2 is located at the moon's far side, which is around 275,000 miles or 442,600 km away from earth's surface, as noted by IFL Science.
As it was moving towards its destination, EQUULEUS was able to get close to the moon. During its short but close encounter with the moon, the EQUULUS successfully snapped the moon's far side from 5,550 km altitude, as noted by the Japan News.
IFL Science also notes that these images were taken when the EQUULEUS was within 3,100 miles from the surface of the moon. The image was also taken wile an operation test on radio waves was conducted last November 22.
The photos reflect the line between both night and day. Other than that, the image also captures several craters that decorate the moon's surface.
Other images of the far side were successfully taken and were found to be at approx. 110-160°E. The images show craters of various sizes (1st and 2nd images) and the Mare Moscoviense (2nd image). 3 photos are superimposed on the lunar surface (3rd image). https://t.co/65huJ6EOuX pic.twitter.com/FSHBVO9sDB
— EQUULEUS (@EQUULEUS_en) November 24, 2022
EQUULEUS Cubesat's Expedition
EQUULEUS is armed with three different instruments to help the astronomers understand the earth's surrounding plasmasphere and the behavior of particles that are charged in this particular area.
The findings that they may generate can help in the formation of strategies to protect both humans and electronics on lengthy missions across space in the Earth-Moon system.
The presence of asteroids, dusts, and effect on the moon will also be evaluated by two other systems. These mechanisms will also search for small moons or other tiny objects near earth that sometimes get caught up in earth's gravity.
The EQUULEUS will take around 6 months to travel to L2. After this travel period, the EQUULEUS will also then spend another six months in the region to conduct the research and gather data.
At the moment, the EQUULEUS shows signs that it is executing the mission well.
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