ESA Science & Technology - SMART-1 Osculating orbit up to 09.05.04

In this diagram the osculating orbits at launch (GTO) and at different times are plotted. Clearly visible are the large effects that the operations of the electric propulsion have had on the orbit expansion. Especially the height of the apogee has dramatically increased and is almost reaching 100 000 km.

Since the start of the mission, the electric propulsion system has changed the orbital parameters as follows: 

• The semi-major axis from 24 626 km to 61 320 km
• The perigee altitude from 656 km to 17 263 km
• The apogee altitude from 35 880 km to 92 620 km
• The orbital period from 10 hours 41 minutes to nearly 42 hours