Danuri, the first South Korean lunar probe, has sent beautiful black and white images of the lunar surface and Earth. The South Korean space centre reported this on Tuesday.
The images were taken between December 24 and January 1, and within 120 kilometres of the lunar surface, the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said in a statement. The photos and videos will be “used to select locations for a moon landing in 2032,” it said.
The orbiter will begin its science mission the following month, throughout which it will map and examine the lunar surface and take magnetic and gamma-ray measurements.
As a first, the Danuri must also test a new communication system that is opposed to interference by sending photos and videos to Earth.
As part of its ambitious space program, Seoul wants to land a craft on the moon by 2032 and send a lander to Mars in 2045.