SMART-1 uses new imaging technique in lunar orbit (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

23 December 2005

SMART-1 uses new imaging technique in lunar orbit

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.

For the last few months, the Advanced Moon Imaging Experiment (AMIE) on
board SMART-1, has been opening new ground by attempting multi-spectral
imaging in the 'push-broom' mode. This technique is particularly suited
to colour imaging of the lunar surface.

(Note that 'colour imaging' here does not mean natural colour, the
colour bands of the AMIE filters are in the infrared region and are
selected such that the intensity of the iron absorption line can be
determined from brightness ratios of the images.)

In this mode, AMIE takes images along a line on the Moon's surface
perpendicular to the ground track of the spacecraft.

It relies on the orbital motion of the spacecraft to reposition it as it
records a sequence of images known as an 'image swath'.

The AMIE camera on board SMART-1 has fixed-mounted filters which see the
Moon in different colour bands. The figure shows four consecutive images
taken by AMIE from left to right. The fixed filters are indicated by
coloured frames.

The images, taken only a few seconds apart, show how the surface is
moving through the different filters. The spacecraft is moving over the
Moon's surface at a speed of more than a kilometre per second!

By combining images showing the same feature on the Moon as seen through
different filters, colour information can be obtained. This allows to
study the mineralogical composition on the lunar surface, which in turn
lets scientists deduce details of the formation of our celestial companion.

Whereas the multi-spectral camera aboard the US Clementine mission had
constant illumination conditions, SMART-1's orbit will offer different
viewing angles. AMIE's views correlated with Clementine data of the same
lunar areas will allow scientists to better interpret such spectral data.

For more information:

Jean-Luc Josset, SPACE-X Space Exploration Institute
E-mail: jean-luc.josset @ space-x.ch

Bernard H. Foing, ESA SMART-1 Project Scientist
E-mail: bernard.foing @ esa.int

More about...

* Looking at the Moon
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html
* SMART-1's dancing shadows at lunar north pole
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMM44638FE_0.html
* 'Alpine' landscape on the Moon
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMM7R7X9DE_0.html
* SMART-1 views Glushko crater on the Moon
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMXY2A5QCE_index_0.html
* SMART-1 views Hadley Rille near Apollo 15 landing site
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMB7A808BE_index_0.html
* SMART-1's tribute to Cassini
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM4GN1DU8E_0.html
* SMART-1's first images from the Moon
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMJHDO3E4E_0.html
* SMART-1 views Middle East and Mediterranean
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEMDNPV4QWD_0.html

Related links

* Space-X
http://www.space-x.ch/
* Advanced Moon micro-Imager Experiment (AMIE)
http://www.space-x.ch/Amie.htm

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE_index_1.html]
The AMIE camera on board SMART-1 has three fixed-mounted filters which
see the Moon in different colour bands. The figure shows four
consecutive images taken by AMIE from left to right. The fixed filters
are indicated by coloured frames. The images, taken only a few seconds
apart, show how the surface is moving through the different filters.

Credits: AMIE Team

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE...html#subhead1]
How three remote-sensing instruments on SMART-1 are scanning the Moon's
surface during one pass. Repeated passes will gradually fill in the picture.

SMART-1 is the first of ESA's Small Missions for Advanced Research in
Technology. It headed for the Moon using solar-electric propulsion and
carrying a battery of miniaturised instruments.

As well as testing new technology, SMART-1 is making the first
comprehensive inventory of key chemical elements in the lunar surface.
It is also investigating the theory that the Moon was formed following
the violent collision of a smaller planet with Earth, four and a half
thousand million years ago.

Credits: AOES Medialab, ESA 2002

[Image 3:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM9TL8A9HE...html#subhead2]
Crater movement as a result of spacecraft moving.