Europe reaches the Moon
ESA PR 59-2004. During the night of 15 to 16 November, ESA’s SMART-1 will reach the first of its closest approaches to the Moon after a 13-month journey. Then the spacecraft will begin adjusting its orbit around the Moon in preparation for a scientific investigation of its surface, starting in January.
During the long cruise, consisting of a spiralling orbit around the Earth that brought the spacecraft close to the lunar capture point, SMART-1 achieved all the technology demonstration goals of the first part of the mission.
The exciting final manoeuvres to enter a stable lunar orbit, the challenges of the journey and the results of the SMART-1 technology tests paving the way for future interplanetary missions, will be presented at a press conference on 16 November at ESA/ESOC in Darmstadt (Germany), starting at 08h00.
Media representatives can also follow the press conference by videoconference from ESA/HQ in Paris, France, ESA/ESTEC (Noordwijk – the Netherlands) and ESA/ESRIN (Frascati – Italy). At each site ESA specialists will be available for interview.
Please return the attached accreditation form to the establishment of your choice.
Europe reaches the Moon – press conference
Programme:
| 08:00 | Welcome, G. Winters, D/OPS |
| 08:05 | Introduction, D. Southwood, D/SCI |
| 08:10 | SMART-1 is at the Moon. Cruise records from the small technology genius, G. Racca, Smart-1 Project Manager, ESTEC |
| 08:20 | Ion-propulsion test: a successful technology demonstration, G. Saccoccia, Head of the ESA Propulsion Division, ESTEC |
| 08:25 | Manoeuvring Smart-1: a new era in space navigation, O.Camino, Smart-1 Mission Control Manager, ESOC |
| 08:30 | New technologies for the space science of the future, B. Foing, Smart-1 Project Scientist, ESTEC |
| 08:40 | Conclusions: glorious times for planetary exploration at ESA, D. Southwood, D/SCI |
| 08:45 | Q & A and splinter interviews |
| 10:00 | End of event |
