The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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The Sun, Moon and Earth's oblateness lead to long-periodic perturbations of the inclination of geostationary satellites. The period is 54 years and the maximum inclination is 15º. Thus, uncontrolled satellites will steadily gain an inclination of 15º after 27 years. They will then cross the geostationary orbit twice a day with a velocity of 3,000 kms/hour with respect to other, controlled geostationary satellites.