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ESA's SMART-1 lunar orbiter discovers elements such as calcium, aluminum, silicon, iron, and other surface elements on the Moon.
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European Space Agency
European organisation dedicated to space exploration
The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of European integration. Its 2025 annual budget…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
SMART-1
European Space Agency satellite that orbited the Moon
SMART-1 was a European Space Agency satellite that orbited the Moon. It was launched on 27 September 2003 at 23:14 UTC from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. "SMART-1" stands for Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology-1, part of the Small Missions for…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Calcium
Chemical element with atomic number 20 (Ca)
Calcium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ca and atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer when exposed to air. Its physical and chemical properties are most similar to its heavier homologues strontium and…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Aluminium
Chemical element with atomic number 13 (Al)
Aluminium is a chemical element; it has symbol Al and atomic number 13. It has a density lower than that of other common metals, about one-third that of steel. Aluminium has a great affinity towards oxygen, forming a protective layer of oxide on the surface when exposed to air.…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Silicon
Chemical element with atomic number 14 (Si)
Silicon is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent non-metal and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium,…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Iron
Chemical element with atomic number 26 (Fe)
Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most…Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)