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SMART-1 spacecraft to crash on the moon

The European Space Agency’s SMART-1 spacecraft — now circling the moon — is headed for a planned early September impact with Earth’s celestial neighbor.

SMART-1 is Europe’s first robotic lunar mission. The name SMART stands for Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology

The spacecraft was launched on Sept. 27, 2003. Making use of its ion propulsion engine to slowly nudge it outward from Earth, the probe powered its way into lunar orbit on Nov. 15, 2004.

Outfitted with miniaturized instruments, SMART-1’s goal has been to gauge key chemical elements in the lunar surface, as well as look into the theory that the moon was formed following the violent collision of a smaller planet with Earth long ago.

Observatories around the world have indicated interest in watching the outcome from SMART-1’s collision with the moon.

At impact, the ESA spacecraft will weigh a little more than 628 pounds (285 kilograms), punching the moon at a grazing incidence near 37 degrees south latitude. The near-side impact is timed so that it will be illuminated to assist in observations from Earth.

posted by: kyawoo at 20:37 | link | comments |
unmanned missions, moon

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