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| Tuesday / 29 August 2006 | ||
SMART-1 Scientists
Prepare End of Orbital Phase, Continuation of Mission.
According to Smart-1 Project
Scientist Bernard Foing, the end of the orbital phase will occur
on 3 September, but that will not be the end of the mission. After
impact with the Moon, the mission continues with data and research
analysis at ESA's Space Operations Center (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany.
Other activities include wrapping up lessons learned and carrying
the heritage for future lunar and planetary missions. On 2 September,
there will be a Science and Technology Working Team (STWT) briefing
on logistics and spacecraft impact events. Presentations will cover
AMIE imaging from last orbits, ground-based and radio-coordinated
observations, and future missions. In the afternoon, a Smart-1 plenary
session will discuss the mission's status and plans for final orbits.
Other topics will include how to conduct joint data analysis, archive
the results, and create publications. Late in the evening, scientists
will make contact with the probe and verify that no premature impact
has take place. Early in the morning on 3 September will be an optional
night watch for the last orbit before Smart-1's nominal impact. The
last perilune before impact takes place at 02:36 (Darmstadt time),
at which time scientists will check if the orbiter has survived unknown
topography. ESOC opens for media questions at 06:30, followed by
checking links with global observatories. Impact is expected at
07:41. At 09:15, there will be a wrap-up of actions from the various
instrument teams, including AMIE imaging and coordinated observations
of the impact. A Smart-1
dinner with all teams is scheduled to occur at 19:00 at a nearby
hotel. The STWT will hold a press conference on 4 September at 11:00.
Foing notes there will be a special session on Smart-1 results on
the last day of 'Europlanet #1: European Planetary Science Congress'
in Berlin, Germany (18-22 September).
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