ANKARA

South Korea’s unmanned lunar orbiter Danuri has completed a detailed map of the moon’s surface, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) announced Tuesday.

Equipped with a wide-angle polarimetric camera, Danuri has produced the world’s fourth full map of the lunar surface using visible light, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing KASA.

The orbiter, which was launched in August 2022, is currently collecting data to create a polarization map and will remain operational until 2027.

"Data gathered by Danuri will assist in identifying landing sites for a lunar lander and deepen our understanding of the moon's environment, while also enhancing the role of local researchers in international projects," said Kang Kyung-In, director of space exploration at the agency.

So far, over 30 domestic and international research papers have been published based on Danuri’s data.

"By extending Danuri's mission, we aim to maximize its scientific achievements and broaden the scope of our space exploration efforts," Kang added.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid