European Moon Mission Ready for Launch

merryprankster writes "Europe's first mission to the Moon is set for blast off from Kourou in French Guiana just after midnight, local time, on Sunday. SMART 1 will study the composition of lunar rock through X-ray observations. The probe uses a new solar electric propulsion system which converts solar energy its panels into motion via the expulsion of ions. Details at the ESA mission site."

Comments

The means of getting there is the best part

[grub]

The probe uses a new solar electric propulsion system which converts solar energy its panels into motion via the expulsion of ions.

IMHO that is much more interesting than the mission itself. The less chemical fuel needed to get moving once in space could mean more room for payload.

Beat the weenies to the punch:

I, for one, welcome our new ion propelled masters!

Imagine a beowulf cluster of these!

Natalie Portman could fly one of these to my house anytime!

The lengths people will go to to hurt the ego of chemical-rocket engineers!

Chemical rockets, 70, found dead in their suburban home, truly an American icon.

Obligatory goatse.cx link.

Re:The means of getting there is the best part

[KingRamsis]

MHO that is much more interesting than the mission itself. The less chemical fuel needed to get moving once in space could mean more room for payload.


Excellent observation from you, this is a new cutting edge propulsion technique, I have been studying this for the last year, I ran across this site which hosts amateur experiments in this phenomena, the made a crude working anti-gravity device, so far there is no solid physical explanation to why it flies, some have theorized that it is ion wind, I was surprised that NASA patented this propulsion technique, I'm too lazy to dig up the link now.

Re:Why so nationalistic?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why not collaborate with NASA instead of trying to re-invent the wheel?
Because NASA's wheel is square.

Finally we'll know

[kesler]

We'll know if the USA actually went to the moon or if that was just a hoax, unless this is a hoax as well. I guess this time I can break out my telescope.

Re:Ion drive is cool, but...

[sharkey]

Sure the Ion drive is a really neat addition, but it's soooo slooooow.

Well, they should add another one to the ship. Twin Ion Engine craft are pretty speedy, and highly manueverable as well.

Re:Boy, will they be disappointed

[leerpm]

And all of Switzerland will breathe a sigh of relief, as what could have been the single biggest competitor to that lovely wholey Swiss cheese, turns out not to be after all.

Re:Ion drive is cool, but...

[Bishop923]

Sure they are highly maneuverable, but you pay for that with a complete lack of ray shielding. Hell, 2 full power blasts from an X-Wing and you are toast...