Although the planned mission was completed in April 2011, the fuel consumption was much lower than anticipated because of the low solar activity, enabling ESA to extend GOCE’s life. In August 2012, the control team began to lower the satellite’s orbit – from about 255 km to 224 km. Dubbed “GOCE’s second mission,” the lower orbit increased the accuracy and resolution of GOCE’s measurements, improving the view of smaller ocean features such as eddy currents.