Japan's H-2A rocket carrying an information-gathering satellite lifts off from the launching pad at the Tanegashima Space Center in Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture on March 26, 2015 (Getty Images)

Japan launching mission to moon

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World

Author: AAP ,
Publish Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2015, 5:21AM

Japan plans to launch an unmanned mission to the moon as a stepping stone to a future visit to Mars.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency has unveiled the plan for a moon lander to a council of the cabinet office and the ministry of education, culture, sports science and technology.

If successful, Japan will be the fourth country to send an unmanned probe to the moon after Russia, the United States and China.

"This is an initial step and a lot of procedures are still ahead before the plan is formally approved," the official said.

According to the evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun, JAXA plans to launch the moon mission as early as the fiscal year starting in April 2018, with a development cost estimated at up to Y15 billion ($A161.03 million).

The probe, named SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating Moon), will be carried by the nation's solid-fuel Epsilon rocket, the newspaper said, adding that the ministry plans to request a budget for the programme next year.

This is part of Japan's effort to prepare for a mission to Mars in the future, the Yomiuri reported.