The image depicts the evolution of the orbit of INTEGRAL from launch,
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, on 17 October 2002 up to
October 2017. The spacecraft travels in a geosynchronous highly
eccentric orbit with high perigee in order to provide long periods of
uninterrupted observation with nearly constant background and away from
the radiation belts. Over time, the perigee and apogee have changed, as
has the plane of the orbit. During these
15 years in space,
INTEGRAL has travelled almost 800 million km.
In 2015, spacecraft operators at ESOC conducted
four thruster burns
that were carefully designed to ensure that the satellite's eventual entry
into the atmosphere in 2029 will meet the ESA guidelines for
minimising space debris. The orbital changes introduced during these
manoeuvres are highlighted in white. Making these disposal manoeuvres so
early also minimises fuel usage, allowing to exploit the satellite's
lifetime to the fullest. INTEGRAL currently revolves around the Earth in
2.6 days, with a maximum apogee of about 1/3 of the distance to
the Moon, resulting in continuous scientific duty cycle of 2.25 days.
ESA Communications also produced a
video
that shows in more detail how the orbit of the INTEGRAL spacecraft has
evolved.
