# SMART-1

> European Space Agency satellite that orbited around the Moon

**Wikidata**: [Q213498](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q213498)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/smart-1

## Summary
SMART-1 (Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology) was a lunar orbiter and artificial satellite operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). Launched on September 27, 2003, the spacecraft was manufactured by the Swedish Space Corporation and powered by an ion thruster. It orbited the Moon from November 15, 2004, until its mission concluded with a hard landing on the lunar surface on September 3, 2006.

## Key Facts
- **Operator:** European Space Agency
- **Manufacturer:** Swedish Space Corporation
- **Launch Date:** September 27, 2003 (23:14:46)
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 5G
- **Launch Site:** ELA-3
- **Propulsion:** Ion thruster
- **Mass:** 367 kg (takeoff); 287 kg (dry weight)
- **Orbital Period:** 4.95 hours
- **Lunar Orbit Start Date:** November 15, 2004
- **Mission End:** September 3, 2006 (Hard landing on the Moon)

## FAQs
### Q: What type of propulsion did SMART-1 use?
A: SMART-1 was powered by an ion thruster, distinguishing it from traditional chemically propelled spacecraft.

### Q: When and where did the SMART-1 mission end?
A: The mission ended on September 3, 2006, via a controlled hard landing in the Lacus Excellentiae region of the Moon.

### Q: Who built and managed the SMART-1 satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Swedish Space Corporation and operated by the European Space Agency.

## Why It Matters
SMART-1 represents a significant milestone in the European Space Agency's exploration of the Moon. As indicated by its full name—Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology—the spacecraft served as a testbed for advanced technologies, most notably its ion thruster propulsion system. This technology allowed the satellite to reach lunar orbit efficiently, though it took over a year from launch to achieve orbit insertion.

The mission provided valuable orbital data from November 2004 to September 2006. Its conclusion was utilized for scientific observation, as the spacecraft was deliberately deorbited to perform a hard landing on the Moon. This impact in the Lacus Excellentiae region allowed scientists to study the ejecta plume and lunar surface composition. As a "lunar orbiter," it contributed to the broader understanding of the Moon's topography and environment, reinforcing ESA's capabilities in deep space navigation and planetary science.

## Notable For
- Being a **lunar orbiter** operated by the **European Space Agency**.
- Utilizing **ion thruster** propulsion technology.
- Being manufactured by the **Swedish Space Corporation**.
- Concluding its mission via a **hard landing** on the Moon.
- Having a specific orbital period of **4.95 hours** around the Moon.

## Body
### Mission Profile
SMART-1 was launched on September 27, 2003, at 23:14:46 from the ELA-3 launch site. It was deployed using an Ariane 5G launch vehicle contracted through Arianespace. The spacecraft successfully entered lunar orbit on November 15, 2004, and remained active for nearly two years.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft had a takeoff mass of 367 kilograms and a dry weight of 287 kilograms. It was designed as an artificial satellite specifically for lunar orbit. Key identifiers include the COSPAR ID **2003-043C** and the NSSDCA ID **2003-043C**.

### Orbital Characteristics
While orbiting the Moon, SMART-1 maintained a specific orbital path:
- **Orbital Period:** 4.95 hours
- **Apoapsis:** 4,600 kilometres
- **Periapsis:** 2,205 kilometres
- **Orbital Inclination:** 90.26 degrees
- **Orbital Eccentricity:** 0.352054

### End of Mission
The mission concluded on September 3, 2006. The cause of destruction was a hard landing situated at Lacus Excellentiae on the Moon. This event marked the decay of the object's orbit and its final placement on the astronomical body it studied.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)