China, Japan to Launch Lunar Missions

By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer, Space & Earth science / Space Exploration

In this artist's rendering released Aug. 2006 by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Japan's first lunar probe SELENE's main satellite makes its way in orbit, accompanied by two smaller satellites. Japan claims its SELENE lunar satellite project, planned to launch on Sept. 13, 2007, is the biggest since the Apollo missions put the first humans on the moon. China, hoping to pave the way for its own manned missions, says its probes will study the lunar surface to help plan a landing. But the big question right now is not about science -- it's who will get there first. (AP Photo/Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)

(AP) -- Japan claims its project is the biggest since Apollo. China says it is readying its probes to study the lunar surface to plan a landing.

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