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The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft ... (Spacecraft to Slam into the Moon)



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 7th 06, 07:19 PM posted to alt.astronomy
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Default The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft ... (Spacecraft to Slam into the Moon)

Another *brilliant* ESA [space] project ... ( Deep Impact envy,
maybe? )

[BeginQuote .. ]

"Scientists are plotting out a "crash course" in learning what happens
when a European lunar probe slams into the Moon.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft--now circling the
Moon--is headed for a planned early September impact with Earth's
celestial neighbor.

The ESA probe would plow into the lunar surface, giving it a glancing
blow as it speeds in at nearly 5,000 miles per hour (2 kilometers per
second).

SMART-1 is Europe's first robotic lunar mission. The name SMART stands
for Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology

The spacecraft was launched on September 27, 2003. Making use of its
ion-propulsion engine to slowly nudge it outward from Earth, the probe
powered its way into lunar orbit on November 15, 2004.

Outfitted with miniaturized instruments, SMART-1's goal has been to
gauge key chemical elements in the lunar surface, as well as look into
the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of
a smaller planet with Earth long ago.

ESA's lunar probe completes a loop around the Moon every five
hours--but that's about to end later this year.

Rehearsal mode

Engineers and scientists are now targeting SMART-1 for possible impact
on the Moon around September 1-2. The current uncertainty range for the
exact time of impact is 15 hours. ...


[... Endquote]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200603...lamintothemoon
for source

  #2  
Old March 9th 06, 07:11 PM posted to alt.astronomy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft ... (Spacecraft to Slam into the Moon)

They merely have to issue the same commands they issued to "Beagle", which
then successfully slammed into Mars. They are good at that sort of thing,
these Europeans.


"Raving Loonie" wrote in message
ups.com...
Another *brilliant* ESA [space] project ... ( Deep Impact envy,
maybe? )

[BeginQuote .. ]

"Scientists are plotting out a "crash course" in learning what happens
when a European lunar probe slams into the Moon.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft--now circling the
Moon--is headed for a planned early September impact with Earth's
celestial neighbor.

The ESA probe would plow into the lunar surface, giving it a glancing
blow as it speeds in at nearly 5,000 miles per hour (2 kilometers per
second).

SMART-1 is Europe's first robotic lunar mission. The name SMART stands
for Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology

The spacecraft was launched on September 27, 2003. Making use of its
ion-propulsion engine to slowly nudge it outward from Earth, the probe
powered its way into lunar orbit on November 15, 2004.

Outfitted with miniaturized instruments, SMART-1's goal has been to
gauge key chemical elements in the lunar surface, as well as look into
the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of
a smaller planet with Earth long ago.

ESA's lunar probe completes a loop around the Moon every five
hours--but that's about to end later this year.

Rehearsal mode

Engineers and scientists are now targeting SMART-1 for possible impact
on the Moon around September 1-2. The current uncertainty range for the
exact time of impact is 15 hours. ...


[... Endquote]


http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200603...lamintothemoon
for source



  #3  
Old March 9th 06, 08:19 PM posted to alt.astronomy
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft ... (Spacecraft to Slam into the Moon)

Hagar wrote:
They merely have to issue the same commands they issued to "Beagle", which
then successfully slammed into Mars. They are good at that sort of thing,
these Europeans.


"Raving Loonie" wrote in message
ups.com...
Another *brilliant* ESA [space] project ... ( Deep Impact envy,
maybe? )

[BeginQuote .. ]

"Scientists are plotting out a "crash course" in learning what happens
when a European lunar probe slams into the Moon.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft--now circling the
Moon--is headed for a planned early September impact with Earth's
celestial neighbor.

The ESA probe would plow into the lunar surface, giving it a glancing
blow as it speeds in at nearly 5,000 miles per hour (2 kilometers per
second).

SMART-1 is Europe's first robotic lunar mission. The name SMART stands
for Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology

The spacecraft was launched on September 27, 2003. Making use of its
ion-propulsion engine to slowly nudge it outward from Earth, the probe
powered its way into lunar orbit on November 15, 2004.

Outfitted with miniaturized instruments, SMART-1's goal has been to
gauge key chemical elements in the lunar surface, as well as look into
the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of
a smaller planet with Earth long ago.

ESA's lunar probe completes a loop around the Moon every five
hours--but that's about to end later this year.

Rehearsal mode

Engineers and scientists are now targeting SMART-1 for possible impact
on the Moon around September 1-2. The current uncertainty range for the
exact time of impact is 15 hours. ...


[... Endquote]


http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200603...lamintothemoon
for source

[Quoting further from the aforementioned reference ...]

Boom and bust finale

Here on Earth, sky watchers worldwide are getting ready for the
projected September 1-2 lunar boom and bust finale of SMART-1.

Foing told SPACE.com that he is now engaged in assembling a
"coordinated campaign" of ground-based observations. This activity
would support SMART-1 measurements and monitor the artificial crash
that mimics in a small way, an asteroid or comet hit on the Moon.
Numbers of observatories around the world have indicated interest in
watching the outcome from SMART-1's collision with the Moon, Foing has
reported.

At impact, the ESA spacecraft will weigh a little over 628 pounds (285
kilograms), punching the Moon at a grazing incidence near 37 degrees
south latitude. The near-side impact is timed so that it will be
illuminated to assist in observations from Earth.


.... [snip]

SMART-ones, those ESA scientists.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

And now for the competition's spacecraft; Deep Impact.

Do 'ya think like maybe .... ?

[Quoting ...]

Deep Impact Wake-Up Status
By Mike A'Hearn

Dear DI Science Team,

This is just to let you know that Jenn Rocca called me yesterday
evening [Feb 9] to say that the initial reports from the DI wake-up
activity were looking good. She then sent out during the night her
Flight Director's Report. Everything they have tested has been fully
functional and in the states that were expected. Thus the spacecraft
seems healthy for an extended mission.

This morning they will bring the spacecraft to point state, i.e. bring
it out of the safe mode that it has been in since August.
[ ... EndQuote]

Cordially,

RL

 




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