Hiten (spacecraft)

is the name of the first Japanese space probe sent to the moon.   It was  the first lunar probe launched by a country other than the Soviet Union or the United States.NASA, Hiten-Hagoromo mission profile ; retrieved 2012-4-16.

The launch was a project of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of the University of Tokyo.

The satellite was sent toward the moon on January 24, 1990.JAXA,  "Catalogue of ISAS Missions" ; retrieved 2012-4-16.  

On the first lunar approach, Hiten released a small orbiter.  This was called The lunar orbiter was named after the feather mantle of Hiten  

 References 

 Other websites 
 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Hiten (MUSES-C) mission profile 

Category:Japanese satellites
Category:Spacecraft launched in the 1990s