Berlin, Sept. 3 (Reuters): Europe’s first moon probe signed off its mission on schedule by crashing into the lunar surface on Sunday, completing a project scientists hope will tell them more about the moon’s origin.

A small flash illuminated the lunar surface as the European Space Agency’s unmanned SMART-1 spacecraft crashed into the near side of the moon in the Lake of Excellence region at about 7,200 km per hour.

The spacecraft tested new space technology during its 3-year mission, and has spent the last 16 months gathering information about the moon.