Europe’s moon mission lifts off

[dArKeR]

SMART-1, WHICH was launched from the European Space Agency’s launch facility in French Guiana, also represents the first lunar mission of any kind in four years. It will orbit the moon for six months, mapping the lunar surface across 266 wavelengths of light in detail that would reveal a small chocolate box.
       Scientists hope the mission will shed light on the Moon’s origin.
       Most astronomers believe the moon was carved from Earth in a violent impact by a Mars-sized object shortly after the formation of the solar system. But the case is far from closed.

       SMART-1 is also billed as a technology testbed. In fact, SMART stands for Small Missions for Advanced Research and Technology. It will use a...

http://www.msnbc.com/news/911154.asp?0cv=CB10