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Mission Images

SMART-1

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Credits: ESA

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Telescopic view of the whole Moon seen from Earth

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Credits: ESA

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Solar-electric propulsion can open the door to a whole new era of space exploration

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Artist's impression of SMART-1

Credits: ESA

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Concept of the SMART-1 spacecraft in lunar orbit

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How three remote-sensing instruments on SMART-1 will scan the Moon's surface during one pass. Repeated passes will gradually fill in the picture.

Credits: ESA 2002. Illustration by Medialab.

Mission

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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

Last update: 21 August 2009

SMART-1

Looking at the Moon

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SMART-1 factsheet

Welcome to the double planet Lunar science - still plenty left to do!Where did the Moon come from?Smart approach to the Moon: An interview with Emilie Evrard Ion drives: Science fiction or science fact?