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LUNAR-A Project
ISAS
April 25, 2003

We are now calibrating the communication system equipped on the
penetrator for LUNAR-A Project, aiming for its launch after FY2004.
The penetration test will be carried out in the U.S. in May 2003 to
verify anti-shock resistance performance of the modified lunar
seismometer. In early fall, the overall test for the communication
system will be done inside the specially designed dome at Noshiro
Testing Center (NTC). Although the former tests on the antenna used
scaled-down model, in the coming tests we will conduct a full-system
test using a penetrator equivalent in size to the flight model.

After the communication system test, the penetrator will undergo the
final penetration test (qualification test). The test findings will
serve as reference to aid potting the actual penetrators installed on
LUNAR-A. 

The overall test for the main spacecraft will resume this fall. At
that time, all the project members will gather after a long
separation. Since the schedule is tight, I hope that we can proceed
successfully with our remaining tasks toward the launch, using all
the team members' power.

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