Japan may be 50 years behind Sputnik, but the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency (JAXA) is ready now to launch the Kaguya lunar probe into orbit of the moon.

It is the largest moon exploration mission since Apollo.

Sometime tomorrow morning, JAXA will know if the probe successfully entered the moon's orbit or not.

Kaguya was launched on Sept, 14th, 2007, circled the earth twice, then headed to the moon about 380,000 kilometers away.

At 5;55am Japan time the probe was sent into an elliptical orbit around the moon's north and south poles. 

And Russia laughed because Japan was so far behind.

And Japan laughed back, because there is enough food to eat.

Do you think space exploration is a waste of money?

See also

Japan Wants to be Invited to Sputnik Anniversary Celebration

China Answers with Two Firsts to Russia's Sputnik

Russia Wars of Arms Race in Space on 50th Anniversary of Sputnik