Smart-1 probe ends mission with planned crash into the Moon
{{date|September 5, 2006}}
__NOTOC__
{{InfoboxStart|infotitle=A three-year journey}}
{{InfosectionStart|name=Artist's impression of the lunar orbiter|style=background:#DDF;}}
[[Image:Artist imp smart1.jpg|196px|Artists impression of the SMART-1 orbiter]]
{{InfosectionEnd}}
{{InfosectionStart|name=Our nearest neighbour|style=background:#DDF;}}
"Our closest neighbour remains an enigma," writes The Times Science Editor, Mark Henderson, "It is the celestial object that lies closest to us... ...yet, despite the proximity we, there is still uncertainty about what it is made from and where it comes from." 
Common theory is that the Moon was created after a large asteroid hit the Earth four and a half billion years ago breaking of large chunks which later formed the Moon. Evidence for this would be provided if the Lunar chemical structure closely matches that of ancient earth. The SMART mission is the first step in performing this analysis.
{{InfosectionEnd}}
{{InfosectionStart|name=SMART-1: Final path|style=background:#DDF;}}
[[Image:Smart1 impact track annotatted.jpg|196px]]<br />Annotated diagram from the ESA showing the final path of SMART-1 as photographed by the probe itself.
{{InfosectionEnd}}
{{InfosectionStart|name=Technical|style=background:#DDF;}}
{|
|-
|'''Organization''':
|ESA
|-
|'''Mission type''':
|Orbiter
|-
|'''Destination''':
|Moon
|-
|'''Launch Date''':
|September 27, 2003
|-
|'''Launch Vehicle''':
|Ariane 5
|-
|'''Mission Duration''':
|3 years
|-
|'''Mass''': 	
|367 kg (807.4 lbs)
|}
{{InfosectionEnd}}
{{InfoboxEnd}}
Observatories around the world watched the skies early on Sunday morning as a [[Europe|European]] space probe, the {{W|SMART-1}} crash landed on the [[Moon]]; the first time a European made object has landed there and, as the first, it made quite a bang. For the culmination of its three-year mission the probe left its orbit around our nearest neighbor and smashed into the {{w|Lacus Excellentiae|Lake of Excellence}} at around 4,500 mph. The impact created a brand new {{wikt|crater|anchor=Noun}} and scattered {{wikt|debris|anchor=Noun}} up to 30 miles, in contrast to the gentle touchdown of the Eagle lander (when [[Neil Armstrong]] became the first man on the moon) 37 years ago.

== SMART ==

[[Image:Second artist imp smart1.jpg|200px|left|Artist's impression of SMART-1 in orbit around the Moon. (ESA)]]SMART-1, an unmanned probe, was launched aboard an {{w|Ariane 5}} rocket on September 27, 2003 from the [[European Space Agency]]'s launch site in {{w|Kourou}}, [[French Guiana]]. The first probe from the Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART) group took 14 months to reach its destination. Since then it has orbited more than 3000 times, covering a staggering 62 million miles. In that time its mission has been to gather new information about the Moon's geographical and [[Chemistry|chemical]] make up. An ESA scientist, {{w|Bernard Foing}} said: "The legacy left by the huge wealth of SMART-1 data, to be analysed in the months and years to come, is a precious contribution to Lunar science at a time when the exploration of the Moon is once again getting the worlds interest." Using {{w|X-ray}} and {{w|infrared}} cameras the probe took pictures of the Moon's surface; some of its findings include a mountaintop (christened the Peak of Eternal light) where the Sun never sets.

Considering the distance it had traveled, the fuel consumption of SMART-1 was quite economical: the entire mission required just 62 litres (13 gallons) of liquid {{w|Xenon}} to fuel it. Weighing in at 376 kilograms and costing {{w|£}}75 million, SMART-1 was one of the smallest and cheapest space missions. Towards the end of its mission the probe was orbiting up to 4 times a day (as opposed to twice a day at the start of its mission) as controllers brought it closer and closer to the Moon in preparation for the final act.

== New technology ==

The mission was also a test of new technologies. The miniature X-ray camera is the first in the world to be able to identify {{w|Calcium}} deposits in rock formations. Combined with other features the probe was, for the first time, able to map the chemical structure of large sections of the {{w|Geology of the Moon|Lunar landscape}}. Manuel Grande, the {{w|University of Wales}} scientist in charge of the camera, said: "What was particularly pleasing was the calcium signal [...] This is the first time we've been able to take an inventory of all the rock-forming elements of the moon."

A similar camera is expected to be included on a similar [[India]]n mission, the {{w|Chandrayaan-1}}, due to be launched in 2007-2008.

Another new technology used by the probe was its engine, called a {{w|Hall effect thruster}}, a new form of {{w|Ion thruster]] (first considered by scientists in the 1950's). Previously this type of engine was only flown on [[Russia|Russian]] {{w|satellite|satellites}}, and this was the first time one has ever powered a craft beyond earth orbit. The thruster works by applying a large {{w|voltage}} across a {{w|magnetic coil}}, creating a strong {{w|magnetic field}}. This {{w|Ionisation|ionises}} the Xenon fuel supply which accelerates the ions to high speeds, pushing the craft forward. The propulsion of such an engine is around 3 times that of a normal chemical rocket. The thruster was powered by 2 {{w|solar panel|solar panels}} on either side of the probe.

The engine's small size and cost-efficiency helped keep down the mission budget. However there are drawbacks; for example, manoeuvres have to be carried out in long progressive burns rather than with short sharp bursts. A hall effect engine will also be used on the Bepi-Colombo mission to [[Mercury (planet)|Mercury]] in 2013.

== Earth observations ==

[[Astronomy|Astronomers]] and scientists in ground observatories tracked the crash landing as it unfolded, controlled by the ESA staff from the [[w:Darmstadt|Darmstadt]] centre, [[Germany]]. The [[w:Mauna Kea Observatory|Mauna Kea Observatory]] in [[Hawaii]] caught the impact on infrared cameras, seen as a bright flash as rock and soil became superheated. Elsewhere, results were less conclusive; in [[Florida]] thick clouds meant astronomers missed the event. One observer said: "It would have been nice if it was clear, but that's the way astronomy works."

== Success ==

ESA sources say the mission was entirely successful in its aim to test new technology and obtain more data about the Moon. "It was really a great mission for the agency," said mission manager {{w|Gerhard Schwehm}}, "It was a technology demonstrator that grew up and provide lots of beautiful science data." 

== Sister links ==

{{sisters
|w
|SMART-1
|Hall effect thruster
}}

== Sources ==

*{{source
|url    = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2341603,00.html
|title  = One giant lump from mankind
|author = Jacqui Goddard
|pub    = The Times
|date   = September 4, 2006
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2341602,00.html
|title  = Our closest neighbour remains an enigma
|author = Mark Henderson
|pub    = The Times
|date   = September 4, 2006
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/04/AR2006090400231.html
|title  = European Probe Sends Back Data on Moon
|author = David McHugh
|pub    = Associated Press
|date   = September 4, 2006
}}
*{{source-pr
|url    = http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM2N58ZMRE_index_0.html
|title  = SMART-1 impact update
|pub    = European Space Agency
|date   = September 3, 2006
}}

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:European Space Agency]]
[[Category:Science and technology]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:The Times (UK)]]
[[Category:The Moon]]

[[ca:La sonda espacial SMART-1 fa impacte sobre la superfície lunar]]
[[de:Europäische Mondsonde „SMART-1“ planmäßig auf dem Mond zerschellt]]
[[es:La sonda espacial SMART-1 hace impacto sobre la superficie lunar]]
[[pl:SMART-1 uderzył w Księżyc]]
__NOTOC__


Artists impression of the SMART-1 orbiter


"Our closest neighbour remains an enigma," writes The Times Science Editor, Mark Henderson, "It is the celestial object that lies closest to us... ...yet, despite the proximity we, there is still uncertainty about what it is made from and where it comes from." 
Common theory is that the Moon was created after a large asteroid hit the Earth four and a half billion years ago breaking of large chunks which later formed the Moon. Evidence for this would be provided if the Lunar chemical structure closely matches that of ancient earth. The SMART mission is the first step in performing this analysis.


196pxAnnotated diagram from the ESA showing the final path of SMART-1 as photographed by the probe itself.

'Organization':

ESA

'Mission type':

Orbiter

'Destination':

Moon

'Launch Date':

September 27, 2003

'Launch Vehicle':

Ariane 5

'Mission Duration':

3 years

'Mass': 	

367 kg (807.4 lbs)


Observatories around the world watched the skies early on Sunday morning as a European space probe, the  crash landed on the Moon; the first time a European made object has landed there and, as the first, it made quite a bang. For the culmination of its three-year mission the probe left its orbit around our nearest neighbor and smashed into the Lake of Excellence at around 4,500 mph. The impact created a brand new  and scattered  up to 30 miles, in contrast to the gentle touchdown of the Eagle lander (when Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon) 37 years ago.

Considering the distance it had traveled, the fuel consumption of SMART-1 was quite economical: the entire mission required just 62 litres (13 gallons) of liquid £75 million, SMART-1 was one of the smallest and cheapest space missions. Towards the end of its mission the probe was orbiting up to 4 times a day (as opposed to twice a day at the start of its mission) as controllers brought it closer and closer to the Moon in preparation for the final act.

A similar camera is expected to be included on a similar Indian mission, the , due to be launched in 2007-2008.

Another new technology used by the probe was its engine, called a Ion thruster (first considered by scientists in the 1950's). Previously this type of engine was only flown on Russian
Space European Space Agency Science and technology Europe Chemistry The Times (UK) The Moon