Last week marked the start of the integration campaign for ESA’s SMART-1
mission. On 13 March, SMART-1 began to take shape as assembly of the
structural model (STM) began at the APCO integration facility in Vevey,
Switzerland.

The structure of SMART-1 is built around an aluminium sandwich central
cone, which supports decks and panels on which equipment will be mounted.
Only aluminium alloys are used for face-sheets, honeycomb cores, struts
and secondary structures. The mass of the structure is 45 kg, while the
complete SMART-1 spacecraft will weigh about 350 kg. Of this, 72 kg is
Xenon propellant which is required for the long trip to the Moon.

The SMART-1 structure implements a novel design which allows easy opening
of the panels during the satellite integration. Along the edges, brackets
can be attached to the panels allowing not only hoisting of the structure
in any position but also the attachment of hinges. This means that panels
can be opened just like a conventional door, improving access to the
units during integration. This design is strong enough to support the
opening of two panels at any time, even when the structure is fully
loaded with the attached equipment.

SMART-1’s structural model will be shipped to Saab-Ericsson-Space, in
Linkˆping, Sweden, by the end of March where they will proceed with the
integration of the complete spacecraft structural model. This model will
then undergo qualification testing at ESTEC, starting in June 2001.

The Swedish Space Corporation, as prime contractor for the SMART-1
mission, is responsible for the development and construction of the
SMART-1 spacecraft.

USEFUL LINKS FOR THIS STORY

* SMART-1 home page

http://sci.esa.int/smart-1/

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://sci.esa.int/content/searchimage/searchresult.cfm?aid=10&cid=12&oid=26472&ooid=26473]
SMART-1 begins to take shape as the structural model (STM) is assembled
at the APCO integration facility in Vevey, Switzerland.

[Image 2:
http://sci.esa.int/content/searchimage/searchresult.cfm?aid=10&cid=12&oid=26472&ooid=26474]
The opened primary structure of SMART-1 with the central cone mounted on
the ground-handling adapter.

[Image 3:
http://sci.esa.int/content/searchimage/searchresult.cfm?aid=10&cid=12&oid=26472&ooid=26475]
The equipment deck and bottom deck of the SMART-1 structural model (STM).