EUROPE’S first probe to the Moon, SMART-1, crashed onto the lunar surface as scheduled at 6.42am Irish time yesterday, ending a successful 16-month mission, the European Space Agency announced.

Europe’s first spacecraft to the moon ended its three-year mission today by crashing into the lunar surface in a volcanic plane called the Lake of Excellence, to a round of applause in the mission control room.

Europe’s first mission to the moon got a scare today, but ground controllers were able make a last-minute course correction that kept the craft from prematurely hitting a lunar crater’s rim.

EUROPE’S first mission to the moon is due to crash- land in a cloud of dust and rock Sunday, ending a three-year voyage that gathered data about the lunar surface and tested a new engine intended to propel future spacecraft to Mercury and other planets.