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SMART-1

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description SMART-1 Overview

SMART-1 was the European Space Agency’s first mission to the Moon and the first European spacecraft to use solar-electric propulsion as its primary propulsion system. Launched from Kourou on September 27, 2003, it used a Hall-effect ion engine to spiral gradually from Earth orbit into lunar orbit, where it carried out lunar observation and technology demonstrations. The mission ended with a controlled impact on the Moon on September 3, 2006.

help SMART-1 FAQ

What was SMART-1?

SMART-1 was the European Space Agency's first mission to the Moon. It was also the first European spacecraft to use solar-electric propulsion as its primary propulsion system.

When was SMART-1 launched?

SMART-1 launched from Kourou on September 27, 2003. It then used low-thrust electric propulsion to spiral gradually away from Earth and reach lunar orbit.

How did SMART-1 travel to the Moon?

Instead of using a large conventional chemical propulsion burn for the whole transfer, SMART-1 used a Hall-effect ion engine powered by solar energy. The engine's low thrust produced a gradual spiral from Earth orbit.

What was significant about SMART-1's propulsion system?

Its solar-electric propulsion system demonstrated a major deep-space technology for Europe. The spacecraft's Hall-effect ion engine used sunlight-generated electricity to accelerate ions and produce thrust.

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