ESAHome
   
Space Science
About Space ScienceESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth
Multimedia
Science imagesScience videosAnimationsDownloadsSounds from spaceRSS feeds
Media centre
Press ReleasesPress kitsESA Television
Resources
Reference sectionGlossaryFAQs
Science missions
Services
HelpLegal disclaimerCommentsSubscribeAdvanced Search
 
 
 
 
Postcard from spaceprinter friendly page
SMART-1 views Middle East and Mediterranean
 
 
   
26 July 2004
Now more than 100 000 kilometres away from Earth, ESA's Moon-bound spacecraft SMART-1 looked back at Earth and returned this planetary perspective of the Middle East and Mediterranean Sea.
 
'Smart' usage of the solar-electric propulsion system (the ion engine) has saved a lot of fuel and the spacecraft will get to the Moon earlier than expected.

Almost 20 kilograms of the xenon fuel could be saved out of the original 84 kilograms, which could then be used to get closer to the Moon than planned, to within distances of between 300 and 3000 kilometres. This will give a coverage of the lunar surface at higher resolution and sensitivity.  
 

Send this page to a friend
 
 
 Looking at the Moon
Looking at the Moon
More about...
SMART-1
Related articles
Gone to the Moon...Ion drives: Science fiction or science fact?Let gravity assist you...ESA’s SMART-1 on course on lunar landing anniversary
Related links
Status reports
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2008 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.