Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science

OK! Tomorrow SMART-1 goes smash. How about SMART 2?

Let's see!

SMART-2, like SMART-1, could use ion propulsion to reach and park in Lunar orbit.
But it would also have a small hypergolic rocketmotor, too. And a larger
amount of ion-propellant, too.

SMART-2 could be made in two parts. Both parts will dip down in an elliptical Lunar orbit,
an orbit with a [brief] perilune of about 10 miles altitude, then separate.

One part of SMART 2 would smash into the moon, kicking up a plume of dust,
and the other part of SMART 2 would have an aerogel lunar dust capturing
tray.

Once that aerogel tray captured a few picograms of lunar dust, the remaining
orbiting SMART-2 craft would store its tray and use the small hypergolic rocketmotor to quickly raise
the perilune to a safe altitude.

Then the separate ion rocket motor would do the rest;
building up orbital energy for SMART 2 to leave the Lunar orbit over a period of many months
and return to Earth.

I wonder how many Euros that would cost the Europeans?

Cheers.

Jacob

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