Andrew Yee
June 10th 05, 06:19 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
8 June 2005
SMART-1 detects calcium on the Moon
Thanks to measurements by the D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer, ESA's SMART-1
spacecraft has made the first ever unambiguous remote-sensing detection of
calcium on the Moon.
SMART-1 is currently performing the verification and calibration of its instruments,
while it runs along its science orbit, reaching 450 kilometres from the Moon at its
closest distance. During this calibration phase, which precedes the actual science
observations phase, the SMART-1 scientists are getting acquainted with the
delicate operations and the performance of their instruments in the warm
environment of the lunar orbit.
Although it is still preparing for full lunar operations, D-CIXS has started already
sending back high-quality data. D-CIXS is designed to measure the global
composition of the Moon by observing how it glows in X-rays when the Sun
shines on it. In fact, different chemical elements provide their 'fingerprinting',
each glowing in a unique way.
On 15 January 2005, between 07:00 and about 09:00 Central European Time,
a solar flare occurred, blasting a quantity of radiation that flooded the Solar
System and the Moon. "The Sun was kind to us", said Prof Manuel Grande of
the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, leader of the D-CIXS instrument team. "It
set off a large X-ray flare just as we took our first look downwards at the lunar
surface".
The lunar surface reacts to the incoming solar radiation by glowing in different
X-ray wavelengths. This enabled D-CIXS to distinguish the presence of chemical
elements -- including calcium, aluminium, silicon and iron -- in Mare Crisium, the
area of the lunar surface being observed at that moment. "It is the first time ever
that calcium has been unambiguously detected on the Moon by remote-sensing
instrumentation", added Prof. Grande. Calcium is an important rock-forming
element on the Moon.
"Even before our scientists have finished setting up the instruments, SMART-1
is already producing brand new lunar science", said Bernard Foing, SMART-1
Project Scientist. "When we get D-CIXS and the other instruments fully tuned,
with scientific data rolling in routinely, we should have a truly ground-breaking
mission".
Notes to editors
D-CIXS, an ultra-compact X-ray camera, forms one of the most innovative
elements of the SMART-1 scientific instrumentation. It is a cube just 15-centimetres
wide, weighing less than five kilograms. D-CIXS is the first instrument of its kind to
be tested in space. It is also the first X-ray spectrometer ever flown around the
moon with sufficient spectral resolution to separate signals coming from different
chemical elements.
For more information please contact:
Prof. Manuel Grande, SMART-1 D-CIXS Principal Investigator
CCLRC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tel: 0044 1235 446501
e-mail: M.Grande @ rl.ac.uk
Bernard H. Foing
ESA SMART-1 Project scientist
Tel: + 31 71 565 5647
e-mail: bernard.foing @ esa.int
Related links
* Looking at the Moon
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html
* Best of SMART-1
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM6S2XJD1E_0_ov.html
* D-CIXS at RAL
http://www.ssd.rl.ac.uk/SMART-1/index.htm
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4711DU8E_index_1.html]
Calcium in Mare Crisium
D-CIXS, the X-ray camera on board SMART-1, has detected calcium, iron and
other elements on the Moon, in Mare Crisium and further north. The lunar region
shown in the image runs from 15 to 45 degrees North, at 60 degrees East
longitude. Hours in the image are indicated in Universal Time (UT).
Credits: ESA/D-CIXS. Full moon image: Courtesy of Hidden Loft Observatory.
[Image 2:
]
Solar flare during D-CIXS observations
A solar flare, lasting from 07:00 to 09:00 (Central European Time, corresponding
to 06:00 - 08:00 Universal Time) occurred while the D-CIXS on board SMART-1
was looking down to the Moon surface on 15 January 2005, making the Moon
glow in X-rays.
Credits: ESA/D-CIXS. Solar flux graph: Courtesy of NOAA
http://www.esa.int
8 June 2005
SMART-1 detects calcium on the Moon
Thanks to measurements by the D-CIXS X-ray spectrometer, ESA's SMART-1
spacecraft has made the first ever unambiguous remote-sensing detection of
calcium on the Moon.
SMART-1 is currently performing the verification and calibration of its instruments,
while it runs along its science orbit, reaching 450 kilometres from the Moon at its
closest distance. During this calibration phase, which precedes the actual science
observations phase, the SMART-1 scientists are getting acquainted with the
delicate operations and the performance of their instruments in the warm
environment of the lunar orbit.
Although it is still preparing for full lunar operations, D-CIXS has started already
sending back high-quality data. D-CIXS is designed to measure the global
composition of the Moon by observing how it glows in X-rays when the Sun
shines on it. In fact, different chemical elements provide their 'fingerprinting',
each glowing in a unique way.
On 15 January 2005, between 07:00 and about 09:00 Central European Time,
a solar flare occurred, blasting a quantity of radiation that flooded the Solar
System and the Moon. "The Sun was kind to us", said Prof Manuel Grande of
the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, leader of the D-CIXS instrument team. "It
set off a large X-ray flare just as we took our first look downwards at the lunar
surface".
The lunar surface reacts to the incoming solar radiation by glowing in different
X-ray wavelengths. This enabled D-CIXS to distinguish the presence of chemical
elements -- including calcium, aluminium, silicon and iron -- in Mare Crisium, the
area of the lunar surface being observed at that moment. "It is the first time ever
that calcium has been unambiguously detected on the Moon by remote-sensing
instrumentation", added Prof. Grande. Calcium is an important rock-forming
element on the Moon.
"Even before our scientists have finished setting up the instruments, SMART-1
is already producing brand new lunar science", said Bernard Foing, SMART-1
Project Scientist. "When we get D-CIXS and the other instruments fully tuned,
with scientific data rolling in routinely, we should have a truly ground-breaking
mission".
Notes to editors
D-CIXS, an ultra-compact X-ray camera, forms one of the most innovative
elements of the SMART-1 scientific instrumentation. It is a cube just 15-centimetres
wide, weighing less than five kilograms. D-CIXS is the first instrument of its kind to
be tested in space. It is also the first X-ray spectrometer ever flown around the
moon with sufficient spectral resolution to separate signals coming from different
chemical elements.
For more information please contact:
Prof. Manuel Grande, SMART-1 D-CIXS Principal Investigator
CCLRC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Tel: 0044 1235 446501
e-mail: M.Grande @ rl.ac.uk
Bernard H. Foing
ESA SMART-1 Project scientist
Tel: + 31 71 565 5647
e-mail: bernard.foing @ esa.int
Related links
* Looking at the Moon
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/index.html
* Best of SMART-1
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/SMART-1/SEM6S2XJD1E_0_ov.html
* D-CIXS at RAL
http://www.ssd.rl.ac.uk/SMART-1/index.htm
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4711DU8E_index_1.html]
Calcium in Mare Crisium
D-CIXS, the X-ray camera on board SMART-1, has detected calcium, iron and
other elements on the Moon, in Mare Crisium and further north. The lunar region
shown in the image runs from 15 to 45 degrees North, at 60 degrees East
longitude. Hours in the image are indicated in Universal Time (UT).
Credits: ESA/D-CIXS. Full moon image: Courtesy of Hidden Loft Observatory.
[Image 2:
]
Solar flare during D-CIXS observations
A solar flare, lasting from 07:00 to 09:00 (Central European Time, corresponding
to 06:00 - 08:00 Universal Time) occurred while the D-CIXS on board SMART-1
was looking down to the Moon surface on 15 January 2005, making the Moon
glow in X-rays.
Credits: ESA/D-CIXS. Solar flux graph: Courtesy of NOAA