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SMART-1 mission to the Moon: Status, first results and goals
Schmidt, W.; Grande, M.; Keller, H. U. +19 more
We present the first results from SMART-1's science and technology payload. SMART-1 is Europe's first lunar mission and will provide some significant advances to many issues currently active in lunar science, such as our understanding of lunar origin and evolution. The mission also contributes a step in developing an international program of lunar…
Detection of sporadic impact flashes on the Moon: Implications for the luminous efficiency of hypervelocity impacts and derived terrestrial impact rates
Pallé, E.; Aceituno, J.; Ortiz, J. L. +8 more
We present the first redundant detection of sporadic impact flashes on the Moon from a systematic survey performed between 2001 and 2004. Our wide-field lunar monitoring allows us to estimate the impact rate of large meteoroids on the Moon as a function of the luminous energy received on Earth. It also shows that some historical well-documented my…
Science objectives and first results from the SMART-1/AMIE multicolour micro-camera
Langevin, Y.; Koschny, D.; Barucci, M. A. +16 more
The Advanced Moon micro-Imager Experiment (AMIE), on-board SMART-1, the first European mission to the Moon, is an imaging system with scientific, technical and public outreach objectives. The science objectives are to image the lunar South Pole, permanent shadow areas (ice deposit), eternal light (crater rims), ancient lunar non-mare volcanism, lo…
A Simple Model of the Effect of Solar Array Orientation on SMART-1 Floating Potential
Hilgers, A.; Thiebault, B.; Estublier, D. +6 more
Determination of the microbial diversity of spacecraft assembly, testing and launch facilities: First results of the ESA project MiDiv
Rettberg, P.; Fritze, D.; Verbarg, S. +4 more
In the near future, an increasing number of in situ life detection and sample return missions to planets and other solar system bodies will be launched. The demand to control spacecraft-carried microbial contamination becomes obvious. COSPAR (Committee of Space Research) has defined guidelines and bioburden limits for different types of missions a…
Modeling of Plasma Flow Around SMART-1 Spacecraft
Gengembre, E.; Markelov, G.
SMART-1 is the first European spacecraft that uses electric propulsion as the main propulsion system. The thruster characteristics and plasma measurements performed during SMART-1 mission lay a good foundation for understanding spacecraft/plasma interactions. This paper discusses the applications and modifications of spacecraft plasma interaction …
Prelude to The Moon: Science, Technology, Utilization and Human Exploration
Ehrenfreund, P.; Foing, B. H.
A COSPAR 2-day symposium was dedicated to "The Moon: Science, Technology, Utilization and Human Exploration" at the COSPAR assembly in Paris, on 22-23 July 2004, sponsored by Planetary (B0.3), Life Sciences (F0.1) and Planetary Protection (PPP3) commissions, and ILEWG International Lunar Exploration Working Group. This was very timely to present t…
The Moon's SMART bomb
Powell, David
Europe's SMART-1 probe is about to crash into the lunar surface in a kamikaze mission of discovery. The author examines what this impact will unearth about lunar history.
On the concepts of a highly integrated payload suite for use in future planetary missions: The example of the BepiColombo Mercury planetary orbiter
Schulz, R.; Erd, C.; Buis, E. J. +6 more
Future low resource payload concepts will need to be developed from the viewpoint of a standard integrated payload suite where resources are dramatically reduced through high levels of integration and resource sharing. The study of this approach, its gains together with its limitations was the key objective of this work. The highly compact integra…
Lunar probe ready to bite the dust
Brumfiel, Geoff
SMART-1 prepares to go out with a bang.