Europe Launches First Mission to Moon

They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.


---------------------------
Sep 28, 10:44 AM (ET)

EVRY, France (AP) - Europe's first mission to the moon got off to a
smooth start with the successful launch of an unmanned Ariane rocket
from a base in South America on Saturday.

The Ariane-5 rocket lifted off from a launch pad in Kourou, French
Guinea at 8:14 p.m. carrying an 810-pound craft that will explore the
moon, look for water and help scientists study the idea of building a
permanent human base on the lunar surface.

The European Space Agency's SMART-1, short for "Small Missions for
Advanced Research and Technology," is expected to reach the moon in
December 2004.

The rocket also released two communications satellites into Earth's
orbit. One is an Indian satellite for television broadcasting and the
other will provide high-speed Internet service for businesses in
Europe.

European Space Agency officials say the SMART-1 mission is
cost-effective at $126 million - about a fifth of a typical major
space mission.

SMART-1 was developed for ESA by the Swedish Space Corporation with
contributions from some 30 contractors from 11 European countries and
the United States.

A month after SMART-1 enters lunar orbit, it will begin a six-month
run of experiments. After that, scientists may extend the mission if
there's enough funding.

Arianespace is the commercial arm of the 13-country European Space
Agency.
-----------------------------

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 18:04:54 -0600, John R. Jorgensen
wrote:


They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.

Ion drives

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3136004.stm#graphic

Regards,

Anthony

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 20:11:30 -0400, Anthony PDC
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 18:04:54 -0600, John R. Jorgensen
wrote:


They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.

Ion drives



smells like aresol cans to me. You could drive there in less time if
it were possible..

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 00:27:51 GMT, Garney Malenfant
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 20:11:30 -0400, Anthony PDC
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 18:04:54 -0600, John R. Jorgensen
wrote:


They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.

Ion drives



smells like aresol cans to me. You could drive there in less time if
it were possible..

Umm...it's "aerosol", for the technically-minded :-) And anyway, try
to contain your umbridge - or is it "Umbridge" hem hem...

It's not like we are trying to put a person on the Moon ya know.

Regards,

Anthony

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 20:49:12 -0400, Anthony PDC
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 00:27:51 GMT, Garney Malenfant
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 20:11:30 -0400, Anthony PDC
wrote:

On Sun, 28 Sep 2003 18:04:54 -0600, John R. Jorgensen
wrote:


They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.

Ion drives



smells like aresol cans to me. You could drive there in less time if
it were possible..

Umm...it's "aerosol", for the technically-minded :-) And anyway, try
to contain your umbridge - or is it "Umbridge" hem hem...

It's not like we are trying to put a person on the Moon ya know.

Regards,

Anthony

Or even "Umbrage" :-)

I know what you mean, my first guess was a slingshot...
Orion

"John R. Jorgensen" wrote in message
...

They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.


---------------------------
Sep 28, 10:44 AM (ET)

EVRY, France (AP) - Europe's first mission to the moon got off to a
smooth start with the successful launch of an unmanned Ariane rocket
from a base in South America on Saturday.

The Ariane-5 rocket lifted off from a launch pad in Kourou, French
Guinea at 8:14 p.m. carrying an 810-pound craft that will explore the
moon, look for water and help scientists study the idea of building a
permanent human base on the lunar surface.

The European Space Agency's SMART-1, short for "Small Missions for
Advanced Research and Technology," is expected to reach the moon in
December 2004.

The rocket also released two communications satellites into Earth's
orbit. One is an Indian satellite for television broadcasting and the
other will provide high-speed Internet service for businesses in
Europe.

European Space Agency officials say the SMART-1 mission is
cost-effective at $126 million - about a fifth of a typical major
space mission.

SMART-1 was developed for ESA by the Swedish Space Corporation with
contributions from some 30 contractors from 11 European countries and
the United States.

A month after SMART-1 enters lunar orbit, it will begin a six-month
run of experiments. After that, scientists may extend the mission if
there's enough funding.

Arianespace is the commercial arm of the 13-country European Space
Agency.
-----------------------------


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 9/23/2003

"John R. Jorgensen" wrote in message
...

They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.


---------------------------
Has anyone given any thought to this? How can a spacecraft acheive escape
velocity (24,000 mph) and still take 15 months to cover 250,000 miles?
Unless the ion engine accelerates the craft from orbit velocity to escape
velocity...and if this is true, then why? That is, why use an ion engine
when a small rocket engine and enough fuel is not prohibitively heavy and
certainly much faster. Maybe this is the French way of doing things.

Al

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 02:15:00 GMT, "Al"
wrote:


"John R. Jorgensen" wrote in message
.. .

They just launched this rocket on Saturday; but the probe
won't reach the moon until December of 2004?! What the
hell are they using for propulsion, a couple of aresol cans?
Anyway, here's the article for those that havent seen it.


---------------------------
Has anyone given any thought to this? How can a spacecraft acheive escape
velocity (24,000 mph) and still take 15 months to cover 250,000 miles?
Unless the ion engine accelerates the craft from orbit velocity to escape
velocity...and if this is true, then why? That is, why use an ion engine
when a small rocket engine and enough fuel is not prohibitively heavy and
certainly much faster. Maybe this is the French way of doing things.

Al


Al, I am sure answers will come your way - I'm looking forward to
same. I'm guessing that testing Ion technology is part of the idea.
And this mission *isn't* French - it's *European*. However, much as
it's tempting to knock that gentle and entirely ego-less nation, whose
idea of teamwork is as acute as ever, their Arianne rockets are rather
good


Regards,

Anthony

Anthony PDC wrote in article
...
Al, I am sure answers will come your way - I'm looking forward to
same. I'm guessing that testing Ion technology is part of the idea.
And this mission *isn't* French - it's *European*. However, much as
it's tempting to knock that gentle and entirely ego-less nation, whose
idea of teamwork is as acute as ever, their Arianne rockets are rather
good


Some cynics might say French = Europe, some less cynical French and
German ;-)
Anyway – as Anthony said it is a European mission, the Arianne rockets
(up to no.4 are rather good). It was good to see the Arianne 5 get
off without any problems and hopefully, now, they have sorted it out
and this will be the norm.
Finally – yes, AIUI, SMART-1 is a test bed for a number of new
technologies including the ion drive.
From – http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=10
"THE MISSION:
ESA's SMART-1 will test miniaturisation technology while exploring the
Moon from orbit. It will be the first space probe ESA has ever sent to
the Moon and it will also be the first of ESA's missions to test
advanced technology needed for future scientific planetary missions.
"
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

I know the ion drive is supposed to be extremely efficient, but I
didn't think it was so much slower than standard chemical engines.



On 29 Sep 2003 02:10:11 -0700, (SimonP) wrote:

Anthony PDC wrote in article
...
Al, I am sure answers will come your way - I'm looking forward to
same. I'm guessing that testing Ion technology is part of the idea.
And this mission *isn't* French - it's *European*. However, much as
it's tempting to knock that gentle and entirely ego-less nation, whose
idea of teamwork is as acute as ever, their Arianne rockets are rather
good


Some cynics might say French = Europe, some less cynical French and
German ;-)
Anyway – as Anthony said it is a European mission, the Arianne rockets
(up to no.4 are rather good). It was good to see the Arianne 5 get
off without any problems and hopefully, now, they have sorted it out
and this will be the norm.
Finally – yes, AIUI, SMART-1 is a test bed for a number of new
technologies including the ion drive.
From – http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=10
"THE MISSION:
ESA's SMART-1 will test miniaturisation technology while exploring the
Moon from orbit. It will be the first space probe ESA has ever sent to
the Moon and it will also be the first of ESA's missions to test
advanced technology needed for future scientific planetary missions.
"