Japanese Lunar Exploration Program 2007, after being delayed several times. SELENE-2, Japan's first lunar lander and rover, is expected to be launched in the 2020s. The program also includes a lunar sample return mission (SELENE-3), a mission to Mars to collect data for future manned expeditions (MELOS), participation in the Mars international sample return mission, and an advanced lander for future human missions to the Moon. The eventual goal is to participate in an international lunar outpost program, in which Japanese crews would stay on the lunar surface for a prolonged period of time and promote scientific research and environment utilization. SELENE (Selenological and
September 1996 lunar eclipse dark mare. This is the second of four lunar year eclipses at the ascending node of the moon's orbit. September 1996 lunar eclipse A total lunar eclipse took place on Friday, September 27, 1996, the second of two lunar eclipses in 1996, the first being on Thursday, April 4. It was part of Lunar Saros 127. The eclipse started at 0:13:59 UTC, the greatest was at 2:54:22 and ended at 5:34:51. Its length of totality lasted more than 1 hours and 9 minutes. This is the 41st member of Lunar Saros 127. The previous event is the September 1978 lunar