SMART-1: Exploring the Moon

In September 2003 an unusual spacecraft known as SMART-1 was launched by the European Space Agency. Its destination was the moon and the solar panels would power its journey. Its ion thruster would fire at precise intervals to extend its Earth orbit to an elongated ellipse, eventually being captured by the Moon s gravity. An important part of SMART 1 s mission was to assess the reliability of this propulsion system.