Japan's lunar probe orbiting moon

Duluth, Minn. -- Japanese space agency officials said Friday that the craft they've nicknamed Kaguya successfully entered orbit around the moon.

The probe's entering orbit means the unmanned explorer has completed "its most important task," an official of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said.

The Selenological and Engineering Explorer -- Selene -- was launched in September and orbited Earth twice and fired its engine to change course and head toward the moon, Kyodo reported.

The probe is to begin its observation mission in mid-December after finishing an inspection of its instruments, Japanese space officials said.

The nickname of the craft was chosen by the Japanese public. Kaguya was the name of a lunar princess in a Japanese folktale.

© Copyright United Press International.