[meteorite-list] SMART-1 to Slam into the Moon in September

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue Mar 7 12:04:43 2006
Message-ID: <200603071702.k27H2f927951_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://space.com/missionlaunches/060307_smart1_moon.html

Spacecraft to Slam into the Moon
By Leonard David
space.com
07 March 2006

Scientists are plotting out a "crash course" in learning what happens
when a European lunar probe slams into the Moon.

The European Space Agency's (ESA) SMART-1 spacecraft - now circling the
Moon - is headed for a planned early September impact with Earth's
celestial neighbor.

The ESA probe would plow into the lunar surface, giving it a glancing
blow as it speeds in at nearly 5,000 miles per hour (2 kilometers per
second).

SMART-1 is Europe's first robotic lunar mission. The name SMART stands
for Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology

The spacecraft was launched on September 27, 2003. Making use of its
ion-propulsion engine to slowly nudge it outward from Earth, the probe
powered its way into lunar orbit on November 15, 2004.

Outfitted with miniaturized instruments, SMART-1's goal has been to
gauge key chemical elements in the lunar surface, as well as look into
the theory that the Moon was formed following the violent collision of a
smaller planet with Earth long ago.

ESA's lunar probe completes a loop around the Moon every five hours - but
that - s about to end later this year.

Rehearsal mode

Engineers and scientists are now targeting SMART-1 for possible impact
on the Moon around September 1-2. The current uncertainty range for the
exact time of impact is 15 hours.

At the end of June, SMART-1 is slated to carry out two maneuvers. These
will fine-tune the exact time of impact. Those slight thrust firings
will lead to the spacecraft flying over the Moon at its lowest point at
below186 miles (300 kilometers) in altitude.

In early July, the plan calls for assessing the success of the maneuver
and determining the spacecraft's orbit and expected impact time. Later
that month, the probe will zip as close as 124 miles (200 kilometers)
from the barren lunar landscape.

In early August, SMART-1 will make an overflight of its eventual impact
site, racing over that area at just 75 miles (120 kilometers) height in
what's termed as "rehearsal" mode for the early September run-in with
the Moon.

According to Bernard Foing, ESA SMART-1 project scientist, an inventory
is being made of the composition and mechanical properties of the
spacecraft - including aluminum, copper, titanium, and other materials, as
well as the probe's remaining hydrazine fuel.

That data will be used to support observations of what is kicked up from
the Moon itself on impact, contrasted to bits, pieces, and fuel tossed
into the mix due to SMART-1's high-speed slap.

Boom and bust finale

Here on Earth, sky watchers worldwide are getting ready for the
projected September 1-2 lunar boom and bust finale of SMART-1.

Foing told SPACE.com that he is now engaged in assembling a "coordinated
campaign" of ground-based observations. This activity would support
SMART-1 measurements and monitor the artificial crash that mimics in a
small way, an asteroid or comet hit on the Moon.

Numbers of observatories around the world have indicated interest in
watching the outcome from SMART-1's collision with the Moon, Foing has
reported.

At impact, the ESA spacecraft will weigh a little over 628 pounds (285
kilograms), punching the Moon at a grazing incidence near 37 degrees
south latitude. The near-side impact is timed so that it will be
illuminated to assist in observations from Earth.

A current orbit simulation of the SMART-1 impact for September 2 is at
lunar longitude 44.54 degrees West and 36.22 South in Lacus
Excellentiae, 10 degrees south of Mare Humorum. A far more refined
target point will come as the event draws closer.

Crater-making crash

Back on July 31, 1999, the Moon was on the receiving end of NASA's Lunar
Prospector.

That farewell fall of space hardware struck within a crater near the
lunar south pole - in an attempt to detect water ice stirred up by the
wallop. No visible debris plume was reported.

According to Foing, the hope is that those Earth-based observers
intending to take part in September's thump of the Moon can make pre-hit
predictions of SMART-1's impact magnitude, cloud ejecta dynamics,
exospheric effects and other observable manifestations brought about by
the crash.

Coordinated measurements by observers here on Earth are high on the
priority list, Foing noted. Impact observations would include: Infrared
imaging of thermal flash; visible/infrared imaging of ejected clouds;
hydrazine flame detection; post-characterization of ejecta; as well as
exospheric effects if lunar material is blasted high off the Moon's surface.

In addition, Foing said, there is also intent to conduct follow up
searches for the crater produced by SMART-1's crash into the Moon via
the sensor eyes of future, follow-on lunar orbiters.
Received on Tue 07 Mar 2006 12:02:41 PM PST