Fifth Luna
Mining asteroid operated by the Earth Federation and later Neo Zeon.
Fifth Luna was a mining asteroid operated by the Earth Federation in Earth’s orbit. It was one of several asteroids moved from the Asteroid Belt to provide resources for space colony construction.
History
The Earth Federation moved several asteroids from the Asteroid Belt into orbit around Earth to serve as resource mining sites for the construction of space colonies. These asteroids, including Fifth Luna, were equipped with thermonuclear pulse thrusters that allowed them to be manoeuvred into position. The thrusters could also be used to move depleted asteroids away from Earth orbit.
In March UC 0093, Char Aznable’s Neo Zeon forces seized control of Fifth Luna during Operation Char. They used the asteroid’s propulsion system to alter its trajectory, sending it on a collision course with the Earth Federation Forces headquarters in Lhasa, Tibet.
Although the Federation deployed its Londo Bell task force to intercept the asteroid, they were unable to prevent its impact. The collision destroyed both Fifth Luna and Lhasa, dealing a significant blow to the Federation’s military command structure.
Design
Fifth Luna was a large asteroid fitted with multiple thermonuclear pulse thrusters on its surface for propulsion. Each thruster measured approximately 100 metres in width, providing sufficient thrust to manoeuvre the massive asteroid. The asteroid’s surface was heavily scarred from years of mining operations.
Behind the scenes
The Fifth Luna incident was a key plot point in the film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, demonstrating the devastating potential of colony drops and asteroid impacts that had been a recurring theme throughout the Universal Century timeline.
Appearances
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
External links
- Fifth Luna on the Gundam Wiki