SMART-1 Ready For Launch

For JPL internal use only.

http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEMY...D_index_0.html

SMART-1 ready for launch
European Space Agenay
19 September 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 this 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.