SMART-1 ready for launch

MOON DAILY

SMART-1 will be the first ESA mission to test solar-electric propulsion as a main propulsion system. It will also test advanced miniaturisation technology which will pave the way for future planetary missions.

Paris - Sep 22, 2003
The launch date for ESA's SMART-1 mission to the Moon is confirmed as during the night of 27-28 September 2003. The 'launch window' will be 8:02 p.m. to 8:21 p.m. on Saturday, 27 September, local time in Kourou, French Guiana, and 1:02 a.m. to 1:21 a.m. on Sunday, 28 September, CEST.

Earlier last week, the SMART-1 spacecraft completed the first 30 metres of its trip to the Moon when it was put on board its Ariane 5 launcher at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.

As ESA scientists and engineers watched, the spacecraft looked very small, with its Ariane 5 mounting adapter, when it was raised the 30 metres up to the top of the launcher inside the Final Assembly Building (BAF). Within an hour it was sitting on the rocket's upper stage.

The spacecraft is pictured here being made ready for flight and having its solar panel array protection removed. The next step is to enclose the spacecraft with the 2.6-metre raising cylinder, which carries the second passenger satellite, E-Bird, on top of SMART-1.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
SMART-1 Mission
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

MOON DAILY

SMART 1 Uses New Imaging Technique In Lunar Orbit

Paris, France (ESA) Dec 28, 2005
ESA's SMART-1 spacecraft has been surveying the Moon's surface in visible and near-infrared light using a new technique, never before tried in lunar orbit.

ENERGY TECH Natural Gas Supplies Should Meet Growing Demand Designing A Better Catalyst For Artificial Photosynthesis Utah State To Revolutionize Power Line Inspections Scientists Explore Complex Nature Of Superconductivity	CIVIL NUCLEAR New Jersey Physicist Uncovers New Information About Plutonium Complex Plant Design Goes Virtual To Save Time And Money Volcanic Hazard At Yucca Mountain Greater Than Previously Thought Los Alamos Lab Working On Romanian Nuke Waste Site
BLUE SKY	WOOD PILE
FARM NEWS NASA Uses Remotely Piloted Airplane To Monitor Grapes	CAR TECH
AEROSPACE Wright Flyer Takes To The Sky In Las Vegas Aurora Builds Low-speed Wind Tunnel Yeager To Retire From Military Flying After October Airshow Boeing Signs Technology Development Agreement With JAI For Work On Sonic Cruiser	NUCLEAR SPACE Boeing-Led Team to Study Nuclear-Powered Space Systems Boeing To Build Space-borne Power Generator New High-Purity Plutonium Sources Produced At Los Alamos

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement