On this day in space! Sept. 3, 2006: Europe's SMART-1 spacecraft crashes into the moon in lunar death dive

On September 3, 2006, Europe's SMART-1 spacecraft performed a controlled crash into the moon. This mission was part of the Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology program, aimed at testing new spaceflight technologies. SMART-1's primary objective was to demonstrate Solar Electric Primary Propulsion, a solar-powered electric engine.

Over its three-year mission, SMART-1 orbited the moon, mapping its surface, studying mineral composition, and searching for water ice. The spacecraft's death dive into the moon, known as the Lake of Excellence, provided valuable data for understanding lunar impacts. Though no spacecraft witnessed the impact, Earth-based telescopes captured the flash.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter later confirmed the creation of a small crater from the SMART-1 crash. This mission demonstrated the potential of solar electric engines for future interplanetary explorations, influencing subsequent missions like BepiColombo, Psyche, and DART.