Crash landing for Smart 1 lunar probe

[Analoguesat]

Europe's lunar satellite, the Smart 1 probe, is about to end its mission by crashing on to the Moon's surface.

It will be a spectacular end for the robot which has spent the past 16 months testing innovative and miniaturised space technologies.

Smart 1 has also produced detailed maps of the Moon's chemical make-up, to help refine theories about its birth.

The impact, which will be watched by professional and amateur telescopes, is set for 0543 GMT (0643 BST) on Sunday.

The robotic craft should come down on the nearside at mid-southern latitudes, in an area called the Lake of Excellence.


BBC News. Full report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5306204.stm

 

[Analoguesat]

Smart-1 impacted at 0642BST this morning

Final impact speed was 4500mph and observers using the big telescopes in Hawaii observed the flash as the probe smashed into the moon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5309656.stm

 

[spiney]

The point being, the "flash" should be amenable to spectroscopic analysis (the whole point of doing it!).

The most significant feature of the mission was the ion engine, very much an unknown (risk), but seems to have performed reliably. The future use of ion engines should make robotic interplanetary probes a bit cheaper, and last much longer (from a limited fuel supply).

Ion engines have been proposed since the 1950s, and can't be used to get up into orbit, but once you are there, then they have some advantages!

http://www.physorg.com/news9786.html .

 

[Analoguesat]

One of the Astra 1's (1H??) has ion thrusters. Its a system called XIPS.

 

[spiney]

I think that's Astas 1H, and 2A!

However, I'm nitpicking. Yes, agreed, it's being used on dbs sats.

There's some difference between using this in short bursts, to maintain already achieved earth orbit, and far more prolonged use as a "main drive". Since the thrust is tiny - although much more fuel efficient - you've got to be quite sure the components will work reliably for extended periods, maybe several days continuously!

 

[Analoguesat]

Smart-1 has really demonstrated the ion drives are a mature technology. It performed faultlessly to propel S-1 into lunar orbit.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Smart-1 has really demonstrated the ion drives are a mature technology. It performed faultlessly to propel S-1 into lunar orbit.

and crash it.:-bash

 

[Analoguesat]

I want going to mention that bit of the story