SMART-1 Electric Propulsion: An Operational Perspective

Abstract

The SMART-1 spacecraft is the first of the European Space Agency’s Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology. SMART-1 was launched in September 2003, as an auxiliary passenger on Ariane 5. After separation from the launch vehicle, the European Space Operations Centre assumed control of the spacecraft. SMART-1’s primary mission goal was to demonstrate Solar Electric Primary Propulsion by orbit raising from Geostationary Transfer Orbit to the Moon. Due to favourable thruster and power subsystem performance, and an efficient orbital transfer strategy, the SMART-1 mission trajectory was fine tuned in flight to produce a shorter transfer time, an improved lunar science orbit and a one year mission extension (via an additional re-boost phase), thus achieving and surpassing the original mission goal. The mission extension performance was enhanced by a set of advanced low pressure Electric Propulsion (EP) operations that were developed and executed in flight. Flight experience using EP is still relatively new, and SMART-1 is the first mission to use EP to achieve large-scale orbit raising from around the Earth. On the 11th November 2004, SMART-1 passed into the primary influence of the Moon and made history with several notable firsts, including being the first Electric Propulsion mission to escape Earth orbit, the first to use Electric Propulsion to enter into orbit around another celestial body, and Europe’s first Lunar mission. This paper presents the unique experiences gained in operating the highly successful SMART-1 EP subsystem and spacecraft, and places SMART-1 in its historical context in the emerging field of EP missions. The specifics involved, and lessons learned in flying such a spacecraft are presented from an operational perspective.