Research report 2003 - Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research

SMART-1 - Europe’s Mission to the Moon

Authors
Mall, Urs
Departments

Allgemeine Abteilung (Christensen, Solanki, Vasyliunas) (Prof. Dr. Sami Solanki)
MPI für Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau

Summary
After a limited view of the lunar surface during the years of the Apollo program, remote sensing missions flown during the last ten years have allowed, for the first time, a global overview of the composition of the lunar surface. Lunar science can bring insight into the general understanding of planetary formation theories. After 30 years a new initiative is on the way to resolve the remaining questions in lunar science. Among the currently planned missions, the European SMART-1 (Small Advanced Research Missions) mission will reach the Moon next. As part of the payload a near-infrared spectrometer, named SIR, developed at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) in Katlenburg-Lindau, will be used to investigate the far side of the Moon, undisturbed from the Earth’s atmosphere, and to participate in the search for water on the Moon.

For the full text, see the German version.

Go to Editor View