LUNAR MINI-CAMERA

Since its ariane launch from Kourou in September 2003, the small but remarkable SMART-1 satellite has been silently spiralling its way to the MOON. Next January it will reach its final orbit and start science observations. SMART-1 is a tacknology demonstrator into which the European SPACE ANGENCY has packed many innovative space techniques to be used on future interplanetary mission. Compactnees and miniturisation are keyfeatures of SMART-1 and its science instruments. In its final operation orbit, SMART-1 will be circling between 3,000 and 300 kilometers over the MOON's pole. AMIE will be able to map a2,000 km bombardment 4 billion years ago. It will also look at polarcreaters whose botom is never reached by sunlight.