Japan to Launch "Princess Kaguya" Lunar Orbiter Sept 13, 2007

After some launch delays, the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has announced September 13, 2007, as the new launch date of their lunar orbiter. India and China have also announced intentions to launch lunar orbiter missions in 2007. The launch of the next US lunar orbiter, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), is set for 2008.

Somehow I think the Japanese picked a prettier nickname for their mission:____

"KAGUYA" has been selected as the nickname for the SELENE from amongst the 11,595 applications received and 2,256 different suggested nicknames. "KAGUYA" originates from "Kaguya-hime (Princess Kaguya)" in
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter...

A girl found in a shining bamboo stalk by an old bamboo cutter grows up to be a beautiful girl and is named "Kaguya-hime (Princess Kaguya)".
Many men proposed to marry her, but Kaguya-hime asks them to perform impossible tasks to prove their love and rejects their marriage proposals. On the night of a harvest moon, Kaguya-hime returns to the
Moon with people who appeared from the sky.

Maybe next time, NASA can ask the public for their input on Lunar mission names. After all the public did name the Shuttle test article Enterprise, the Shuttle Endeavour, and the two Martian rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Maybe it's a good source of art and beauty and a good way to get people participating in the mission.

New Launch Day of "Kaguya" [JAXA]