The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicSMART-1 was carried into Earth orbit on 27 September 2003 as an auxiliary payload on Ariane 5 flight V162. The satellite was used to test solar-electric propulsion and other deep-space technologies, while performing scientific observations of the Moon.
The electric propulsion system was used to raise the apogee (point of furthest excursion from the Earth) of the orbit until lunar capture occurred on 11 November 2004. Once in lunar orbit, the novel propulsion system was used to lower the apolune (point of furthest excursion from the Moon) and circularise the orbit.
Among the scientific investigations, mission data helped to provide answers to questions about the origin of the Moon and to search for ice in the craters at the Moon's south pole. The SMART-1 mission ended on 3 September 2006 when the spacecraft, in a planned manoeuvre, impacted the lunar surface in the Lacus Excellentiae region.