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

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) SMART-1 mission concluded dramatically on September 3, 2006, when the spacecraft intentionally impacted the surface of the Moon. The controlled crash occurred at approximately 08:47 GMT near the Descartes Crater within the Procellarum region of the lunar south pole. This deliberate end to the mission was a key element of its design, aiming to gather data during its final descent and impact phase. Scientists utilized this final opportunity for close-range observations before the spacecraft's destruction. Following the impact, analysis of the data collected during SMART-1’s trajectory continues to provide valuable insights into the moon’s composition.