N° 17–2003: ESA presents SMART-1 - Europe to the Moon, the Moon for Europe

SMART-1 is a prototype for space missions of the future. It is a small, low-cost mission that emphasises miniaturisation. It carries ten experiments that will test a host of technological innovations in the context of the first European scientific mission to the Moon.

SMART-1 is the first in a series of “Small Missions for Advanced Research and Technology”. The programme is dedicated to finding new solutions that can bring down the cost of space missions and allow more space science to be done for the money. SMART-1 is a precursor of a new philosophy, based on developing lightweight technologies for spacecraft. Accordingly the benefits are not only for space science but the mission technology is also aimed to help maintain the European space industry at the forefront of commercial competitiveness and technological know-how.

The centrepiece of the SMART-1 mission is the testing of solar electric propulsion (SEP), commonly referred to as an ion engine. This is a key technology that will make possible future missions such as Bepi-Colombo to Mercury and the Solar Orbiter. However the use will not just be limited to science; the telecommunications industry is being very attentive, too.

The technology preparation for SMART-1 will be presented at the event. At the same time, SMART-1 is far more than just a technology demonstrator. Although astronauts long ago walked on the Moon, there are many science problems that can only be tackled by global surveying of the kind SMART-1 will do. Its new science instruments will attack some of the most perplexing lunar mysteries, including the formation of the Moon, the search for water ice and the analysis of the lunar crust’s mineral composition.

The SMART-1 day at ESTEC will take the form of a series of presentations by relevant project leaders, and offer the chance to actually view the spacecraft in the test facilities.

For more information please contact:

ESA Communication Department

Media Relations Office

Paris, France

Tel: +33(0)15369 7155

Fax: +33(0)1 5369 7690

For more information about SMART-1 and the ESA Science Programme, visit: http://sci.esa.int

For more information about the ESA Technology Programme, visit: http://www.esa.int/tech/

For more information about ESA visit: http://www.esa.int

 

SMART-1 Science & Technology Media Day

Thursday 3 April 2003

ESA Estec, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Newton 1 Conference Room

Event Programme

09:15 - Registration and coffee, planning of individual interviews

10:10 - ESA Cosmic Vision & SMART-1, by Prof. David Southwood, ESA Director of Science

10:30 - SMART-1 & technology preparation for the future, by Niels Jensen, ESA, Directorate of Industrial Matters & Technology Programmes

10:50 - Overview of the Smart-1 mission, by Bernard H. Foing , ESA SMART-1 Project Scientist

11:10 - Project milestones until launch, and lunar phase, by Giuseppe Racca, ESA SMART-1 Project Manager

11:30 - SMART-1 industrial organisation, by Sven Grahn, Vice President of Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) & Peter Rathsman, SSC - SMART-1 Project Manager

11:50 - Q&A session

12:30 - Lunch buffet (in Newton Foyer). Additional project specialists and possibility of interviews

13:45 - Transfer to Test Centre

14:00 - Visit of SMART-1 flight unit. Explanations by project staff

Group 1

15:15 - Return to Newton 1 Conference Room for additional interviews

or

Group 2

15:15 - Transfer to Erasmus for debriefing on ISS

16:30 - End of event/ Transfer to Schiphol by bus

 

SMART-1 Science & Technology Media Day

Thursday 3 April 2003

ESA Estec, Keplerlaan 1, 2200 AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Newton 1 Conference room

Name : ___________________Surname :________________________

MEDIA : ___________________________________________________

Address :__________________________________________________

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Tel:_______________________ Fax :__________________________

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[ ] I will participate in the SMART-1 Media day

[ ] I will not participate

 

For further information:

ESA Media Relations Service

Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155

Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690