ESA - SMART-1 - Impact landing ends SMART-1 mission to the Moon

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Impact landing ends SMART-1 mission to the Moon

3 September 2006

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This artist's impression shows the trajectory of ESA SMART-1 spacecraft in the final phase of its mission, due to end through a small impact on the lunar surface.

After two weeks of manoeuvres started on 19 June and concluded on 2 July 2006, the impact is now set to occur on the near side and most probably at 05:41 UT (07:41 CEST) on 3 September 2006.

Credits: ESA - C.Carreau

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This animated artist's impression depicts the last moments before lunar impact as it would have appeared from SMART-1.

Credits: ESA

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This animated artist's impression shows the SMART-1 spacecraft taking images of the lunar surface at close distance.

Credits: ESA - C.Carreau

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Close-up view of SMART-1's stationary plasma thruster

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Electrons attracted into the discharge chamber collide with xenon atoms from the propellant gas supply, making charged atoms (ions). Current-carrying coils, inside and outside the doughnut-shaped discharge chamber, sustain a magnetic field oriented like the spokes of a wheel. By the Hall effect, ions and electrons swerving in opposite directions in the magnetic field create an electric field. This expels the xenon ions in a propulsive jet. Other emitted electrons then neutralize the xenon, producing the blue jet.

Credits: ESA 2002. Illustration by Medialab.

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The European Space Agency’s SMART-1 was one of three payloads on Ariane Flight 162. The generic Ariane-5 lifted off from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, at 2014 hrs local time (2314 hrs GMT) on 27 September (01:14 Central European Summer time on 28 September).

Credits: ESA/CNES/Arianespace - Service optique CSG

SMART-1

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Ion engine gets SMART-1 to the Moon Close-up on Cuvier crater ridge Eroded structures in Jacobi crater: a window on the past An oblique look on the north lunar far west Close-up on highlands near crater Pentland Lava dome in Schiller Mare Serenitatis: crater statistics and lunar chronology Mersenius crater – wrinkles between Humorum and Procellarum Lomonosov – a large crater filled by lava SMART-1 birthday postcard of Apollo 11 landing site Gruithuisen: non-mare volcanism in Procellarum Landscapes from the ancient and eroded lunar far side SMART-1 view of crater Sulpicius Gallus The SMART-1 way - giving the Moon some great new looks Mare Humorum: where craters tell the story of basalt Gassendi crater - clue on the thermal history of Mare Humorum Kepler Crater as seen by SMART-1