Kaguya, Japan's first lunar probe satellite, dropped to the moon's surface in the early hours of June 11 Japan time after completing its 17-month-long mission to shed light on its origin and evolution, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said June 11.

JAXA said the satellite, which is known as SELENE, or the Selenological and Engineering Explorer, hit the lunar surface at around 80.4 degrees east longitude and 65.5 degrees south latitude at 3:25 a.m. June 11.

Since its launch in September 2007, the satellite has been orbiting the moon at an altitude of about 100 km to research its geography, elements, mineral distribution and gravity levels.