00:00On this day in space. In 2006 a European satellite named Smart One crashed into
00:07the moon. This wasn't actually as disastrous as it sounds because the
00:11spacecraft did it on purpose. Smart One launched in 2003 and was the first
00:15European spacecraft to go to the moon. It was also the first mission of a program
00:19called Small Missions for Advanced Research and Technology, which was a
00:22series of low-cost spacecraft that the European Space Agency launched to test
00:26new spaceflight technologies. Smart One's primary objective was to do a flight
00:30test of something called solar electric primary propulsion or solar-powered
00:34electric engine. While it orbited the moon for almost two years, it looked for water,
00:38ice, and other chemicals on the lunar surface. When it slammed into the moon,
00:42that was also for science. Astronomers back on Earth watched the impact with their
00:46telescopes, hoping that it would give them some insight into the mechanics of
00:49meteor impacts. And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:56I think that when the meteorologist was ready, it was a great show.
00:58thebournes are there. But the meteorologistiettel on Earth is probably
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