14 August

2003: On 14 August 2003, while the ESA SMART-1 spacecraft was on the launchpad in Kourou, French Guiana, the Flight Operations team at ESOC mission control in Damstadt, Germany, was working on a simulation of the first part of the SMART-1 mission.

The operations of a spacecraft to be performed in orbit are highly complex and need to be fully prepared. The spacecraft not only has to work properly, but also the whole ground infrastructure which supports the flight has to be carefully tested and rehearsed.

For SMART-1, a series of simulations tested all normal orbit operations. The ESOC Flight Operations team was in charge of the computers and software of the Mission Control system, the ground stations, the flight dynamics and the flight control of SMART-1.

These simulations are extremely useful, as they train the team to react positively when unforeseen events occur. It also helps the whole team to work together and act in a concerted way.

The simulation on 14 August 2003 was designed to test the first part of the mission: from launcher separation until the spacecraft achieved safe mode on the fourth orbit.