Lunar Transfer
The spacecraft of approximately 190 kg mass and a size of 76 x 74 x 74 cm is designed to be launched as a secondary or auxiliary payload into Geostationary transfer orbit in late 2013 / early 2014. From there, the spacecraft uses its on-board propulsion to travel to lunar orbit via a weak stability boundary transfer. This travel via the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point takes three months, but it requires much less propellant than a direct transfer (see Low energy transfer and Interplanetary Transport Network). ESMO is intended to be operated in lunar orbit for six months.
Read more about this topic: European Student Moon Orbiter
Famous quotes containing the words lunar and/or transfer:
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Sang halfway through its little inborn tune.”
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