diff --git a/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.test.ts b/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..00db92ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import { describe, expect, test } from "vitest";
+import {
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS,
+	getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition,
+} from "./analysis-orbit-loader";
+
+describe("analysis orbit loader geometry", () => {
+	test("folds every petal into one centered circle", () => {
+		for (const petal of ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS) {
+			expect(getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition(petal, 0)).toEqual({
+				cx: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER,
+				cy: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER,
+			});
+		}
+	});
+
+	test("expands every petal back to its orbit position", () => {
+		for (const petal of ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS) {
+			const position = getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition(petal, 1);
+			expect(position.cx).toBeCloseTo(petal.cx);
+			expect(position.cy).toBeCloseTo(petal.cy);
+		}
+	});
+
+	test("opens wider while staying inside the loader bounds", () => {
+		expect(ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE).toBeGreaterThan(64);
+
+		const petalRadius = ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE / 2;
+		for (const petal of ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS) {
+			expect(petal.cx - petalRadius).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+			expect(petal.cx + petalRadius).toBeLessThanOrEqual(
+				ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE,
+			);
+			expect(petal.cy - petalRadius).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+			expect(petal.cy + petalRadius).toBeLessThanOrEqual(
+				ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE,
+			);
+		}
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.ts b/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79b5ac26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+export const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE = 360;
+export const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE = 174;
+
+// Expanded-state distance from the loader center to each petal center.
+// Keep this below `loaderRadius - petalRadius` so petals never clip, and below
+// the petal radius so the expanded flower still overlaps in the middle instead
+// of opening a hole. This is the one design knob for "more or less expanded."
+export const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE = 86;
+export const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER = ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE / 2;
+
+export type AnalysisOrbitPetal = {
+	id: string;
+	cx: number;
+	cy: number;
+};
+
+export const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS: AnalysisOrbitPetal[] = Array.from(
+	{ length: 9 },
+	(_, index) => {
+		// Nine petals at 40-degree increments gives a full 360-degree flower.
+		// These expanded positions are static, so they are calculated once at
+		// module load rather than recomputed during every animation frame.
+		const angle = (index * 40 * Math.PI) / 180;
+		return {
+			id: `analysis-orbit-${index}`,
+			cx:
+				ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER + Math.sin(angle) * ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE,
+			cy:
+				ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER - Math.cos(angle) * ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE,
+		};
+	},
+);
+
+export const getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition = (
+	petal: AnalysisOrbitPetal,
+	foldProgress: number,
+) => {
+	"worklet";
+
+	// `foldProgress` is intentionally geometry-only:
+	// - 1 means fully expanded at the petal's orbit position.
+	// - 0 means fully folded, with every petal centered on the exact same point.
+	//
+	// That is what makes the loader collapse to one circle instead of shrinking
+	// the whole flower down to a smaller, still-expanded flower.
+	const progress = Math.min(Math.max(foldProgress, 0), 1);
+	return {
+		cx: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER + (petal.cx - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER) * progress,
+		cy: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER + (petal.cy - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER) * progress,
+	};
+};
diff --git a/src/features/learning-plans/learning-plan-ui.tsx b/src/features/learning-plans/learning-plan-ui.tsx
index d7606476..38e5dd1c 100644
--- a/src/features/learning-plans/learning-plan-ui.tsx
+++ b/src/features/learning-plans/learning-plan-ui.tsx
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { ActivityIndicator, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
 import Animated, {
 	cancelAnimation,
 	Easing,
+	type SharedValue,
 	useAnimatedStyle,
 	useReducedMotion,
 	useSharedValue,
@@ -11,7 +12,6 @@ import Animated, {
 	withSequence,
 	withTiming,
 } from "react-native-reanimated";
-import Svg, { Circle } from "react-native-svg";
 import { Button } from "~/components/ui/button";
 import {
 	FieldAccessory,
@@ -33,6 +33,14 @@ import type {
 	PlanSession,
 	SessionPhase,
 } from "~/features/learning-plans/types";
+import {
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE,
+	type AnalysisOrbitPetal,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE,
+	ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS,
+	getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition,
+} from "~/features/learning-plans/analysis-orbit-loader";
 import {
 	formatDate,
 	formatDayOfMonth,
@@ -41,6 +49,7 @@ import {
 	parseDateKey,
 	timeFromMinutes,
 } from "~/features/learning-plans/utils";
+import { DAYOVA_DESIGN_SYSTEM } from "~/lib/design-system";
 import { formatGermanUiText } from "~/lib/german-ui-text";
 import { formatFileSize } from "~/lib/upload-policy";
 
@@ -61,23 +70,16 @@ const getSessionPhaseLabel = (phase: SessionPhase) =>
 
 const sessionPhaseOptions: SessionPhase[] = ["theory", "practice", "rehearsal"];
 
-const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE = 360;
-const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE = 174;
-const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE = 64;
 const ORBIT_COLLAPSE_DURATION = 2400;
 const ORBIT_EXPAND_DURATION = 2200;
 const ORBIT_CYCLE_DURATION = 5000;
 const ORBIT_REST_DURATION =
 	ORBIT_CYCLE_DURATION - ORBIT_COLLAPSE_DURATION - ORBIT_EXPAND_DURATION;
-const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER = ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE / 2;
-const ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS = Array.from({ length: 9 }, (_, index) => {
-	const angle = (index * 40 * Math.PI) / 180;
-	return {
-		id: `analysis-orbit-${index}`,
-		cx: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER + Math.sin(angle) * ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE,
-		cy: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER - Math.cos(angle) * ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_DISTANCE,
-	};
-});
+
+// The design-system primary color is fully saturated, so opacity gives the
+// overlapping petals the translucent flower look without introducing a separate
+// off-palette blue.
+const ORBIT_PETAL_OPACITY = 0.58;
 
 export function SectionTitle({
 	title,
@@ -389,21 +391,68 @@ export function SessionEditForm({
 	);
 }
 
+function AnalysisOrbitPetalCircle({
+	petal,
+	foldProgress,
+}: {
+	petal: AnalysisOrbitPetal;
+	foldProgress: SharedValue<number>;
+}) {
+	const petalStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
+		// This worklet runs on the Reanimated UI thread. React does not re-render
+		// during the loader loop; each petal only receives a cheap transform update.
+		const position = getAnalysisOrbitPetalPosition(petal, foldProgress.get());
+		return {
+			transform: [
+				{ translateX: position.cx - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER },
+				{ translateY: position.cy - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER },
+			],
+		};
+	});
+
+	return (
+		<Animated.View
+			style={[
+				{
+					// Each petal is drawn once as a native rounded view centered in the
+					// loader. Animation only changes transform, which is cheaper than
+					// changing layout, SVG attributes, or React state on every frame.
+					position: "absolute",
+					left: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE / 2,
+					top: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_CENTER - ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE / 2,
+					height: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE,
+					width: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE,
+					borderRadius: ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE / 2,
+					backgroundColor: DAYOVA_DESIGN_SYSTEM.colors.primary,
+					opacity: ORBIT_PETAL_OPACITY,
+				},
+				petalStyle,
+			]}
+		/>
+	);
+}
+
 export function AnalysisOrbitLoader() {
-	const flowerScale = useSharedValue(1);
+	// Two independent shared values model the product requirement directly:
+	// `foldProgress` controls the petal geometry, while `flowerRotation` controls
+	// only the collapse spin. Keeping them separate avoids rotating the expansion.
+	const foldProgress = useSharedValue(1);
 	const flowerRotation = useSharedValue(0);
 	const reduceMotion = useReducedMotion();
 
 	useEffect(() => {
 		if (reduceMotion) {
 			flowerRotation.set(0);
-			flowerScale.set(1);
+			foldProgress.set(1);
 			return;
 		}
 
 		flowerRotation.set(
 			withRepeat(
 				withSequence(
+					// Rotate only while collapsing. The following delay keeps the final
+					// rotation value during expansion/rest, then snaps it back to 0 at
+					// the loop boundary where the flower is already expanded.
 					withTiming(40, {
 						duration: ORBIT_COLLAPSE_DURATION,
 						easing: Easing.inOut(Easing.cubic),
@@ -416,13 +465,16 @@ export function AnalysisOrbitLoader() {
 				-1,
 			),
 		);
-		flowerScale.set(
+		foldProgress.set(
 			withRepeat(
 				withSequence(
+					// Collapse by moving every petal center to the exact loader center.
 					withTiming(0, {
 						duration: ORBIT_COLLAPSE_DURATION,
 						easing: Easing.inOut(Easing.cubic),
 					}),
+					// Expand back out without changing `flowerRotation`, so the flower
+					// opens in place instead of spinning open.
 					withTiming(1, {
 						duration: ORBIT_EXPAND_DURATION,
 						easing: Easing.out(Easing.cubic),
@@ -435,17 +487,13 @@ export function AnalysisOrbitLoader() {
 
 		return () => {
 			cancelAnimation(flowerRotation);
-			cancelAnimation(flowerScale);
+			cancelAnimation(foldProgress);
 		};
-	}, [flowerRotation, flowerScale, reduceMotion]);
+	}, [flowerRotation, foldProgress, reduceMotion]);
 
 	const flowerStyle = useAnimatedStyle(() => {
-		const scaleProgress = flowerScale.get();
 		return {
-			transform: [
-				{ rotate: `${flowerRotation.get()}deg` },
-				{ scale: 0.62 + scaleProgress * 0.38 },
-			],
+			transform: [{ rotate: `${flowerRotation.get()}deg` }],
 		};
 	});
 
@@ -458,25 +506,16 @@ export function AnalysisOrbitLoader() {
 			}}
 		>
 			<Animated.View
-				className="h-full w-full items-center justify-center"
+				className="h-full w-full"
 				style={flowerStyle}
 			>
-				<Svg
-					width={ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE}
-					height={ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE}
-					viewBox={`0 0 ${ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE} ${ANALYSIS_ORBIT_LOADER_SIZE}`}
-				>
-					{ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS.map((petal) => (
-						<Circle
-							key={petal.id}
-							cx={petal.cx}
-							cy={petal.cy}
-							r={ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETAL_SIZE / 2}
-							fill="#3A7BFF"
-							fillOpacity={0.55}
-						/>
-					))}
-				</Svg>
+				{ANALYSIS_ORBIT_PETALS.map((petal) => (
+					<AnalysisOrbitPetalCircle
+						key={petal.id}
+						petal={petal}
+						foldProgress={foldProgress}
+					/>
+				))}
 			</Animated.View>
 		</View>
 	);