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SMART-1 sets off for the Moon

29 September 2003

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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

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SMART-1 is the first of ESA’s Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology. It is heading for the Moon using a solar-electric propulsion system and carrying a range of miniaturised instruments. As well as testing new technology, SMART-1 will make the first comprehensive inventory of key chemical elements in the lunar surface. It will also investigate the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of a smaller planet with Earth, 4500 million years ago.

Credits: ESA

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