SMART-1 was still completely within the Earth's sphere of influence, due to the much larger mass of the Earth, despite the fact that it was closer to the Moon.

However, the gravitational influence of the Moon on the SMART-1 orbit has been large enough to significantly change the orbit (see figure below).

The effect produced is similar to that generated during a planetary fly-by. Typically in a fly-by the closest approach of the spacecraft to the planet or moon takes place well within its sphere of influence (roughly 60 000 km radius for the Moon).

In such a case the spacecraft acquires a major change in its trajectory from gravitational interactions with the larger body. This well-proven technique, which was first experimented with Mariner 10 in 1973, has been successfully used many times in different parts of the solar system.

SMART-1, however, was outside the sphere of influence of the Moon so experienced a low intensity gravitational disturbance to its orbit, rather than a major course correction.

These regions, where more than one planetary body are affecting the flight of a spacecraft, are much more difficult to handle.

These scenarios fall in the realm of multi-body dynamics, which have engaged several mathematicians for years and are still a matter for today's theoretical research.

The ESA flight dynamics team, located at ESOC, used powerful computing techniques to analyse the problem to ensure the desired changes in altitude and argument of perigee.

These encounters will occur at regular intervals with each lunar orbit (period of 27.4 days).

Because the Moon's orbit is fixed, the period of the SMART-1 orbit is altered to ensure the spacecraft is at apogee when close to the Moon. The SMART-1 orbit is, therefore, in "resonance" with that of the Moon.

Up to 25 August, at the 266th engine pulse, the SMART-1 electric propulsion system has cumulated a total ON time of nearly 3146 hours, consumed about 49 kg of Xenon and imparted to the spacecraft a velocity increment of about 2330 ms-1.

Future Activities

The next lunar resonances are scheduled for 15 September and 12 October. Lunar capture is planned for 17 November. Electric propulsion should then resume on 20 November for spiralling down into a polar lunar orbit with 300 km perilune and 3000 km apolune. Lunar commissioning is planned to start in mid-January 2005, and lunar science operations in February 2005.

A presentation of the SMART-1 mission and science results will be given at the British Festival of Science (7 September, Exeter) in the session "Physics and Chemistry of the Earth: Past, Present and Future".

The SMART-1 plasma working group will meet at ESTEC on 16 September to discuss the measurements of the plasma instruments EPDP and SPEDE in relation to the operations of the Ion propulsion, measurements of natural plasma from the Earth to the Moon, and lessons learned for the future.

SMART-1 will celebrate its first year in space on 27 September, and the Science and Technology Working Team will hold a workshop on 26-27 October to review the technology demonstration, cruise results and future lunar science payload planning.

SMART-1 osculating orbit up to 25 August 2004

Since the start of the mission the orbital elements have been changed by the ion-engine and the first lunar resonance as follows:

The orbital period from 10 hours 41 minutes to nearly 6 days

Related Links
SMART-1 at ESA
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