Solar Orbiter
Artist's impression of ESA’s Solar Orbiter
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| Mission type | Solar heliophysics orbiter | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Operator | ESA & NASA | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | sci |
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| Mission duration | 7 years (nominal) 10 years (extended) |
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| Spacecraft properties | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Astrium UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch mass | 1,800 kg (4,000 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Payload mass | ~190 kg (420 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions | 2.5 m × 3 m (8.2 ft × 9.8 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power | 1100 watts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start of mission | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch date | October 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocket | Atlas V 411 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Orbital parameters | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference system | Heliocentric | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regime | Elliptic orbit | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perihelion | 0.28 AU | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apohelion | 0.8-0.9 AU | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Inclination | 0-34 degrees | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period | 150 days | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Epoch | planned | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Main | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Ritchey–Chrétien reflector | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diameter | 160 mm (6.3 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Focal length | 2.5 m (8.2 ft) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wavelengths | visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Instruments | |
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| EPD | Energetic Particle Detector |
| EUI | Extreme Ultraviolet Imager |
| MAG | Magnetometer |
| METIS | Coronagraph |
| PHI | Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager |
| RPW | Radio and Plasma Waves |
| SoloHI | Heliospheric Imager |
| SPICE | Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment |
| STIX | X-ray Spectrometer/Telescope |
| SWPA | Solar Wind Plasma Analyser |
ESA solar system insignia for the Solar Orbiter mission
Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a planned Sun-observing satellite, under development by the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission will be launched with an Atlas V from the Cape Canaveral AFS in Florida in October 2018. SolO is intended to perform detailed measurements of the inner heliosphere and nascent solar wind, and perform close observations of the polar regions of the Sun, which is difficult to do from Earth, both serving to answer the question 'How does the Sun create and control the heliosphere?'
The Solar Orbiter will make observations of the Sun from an eccentric orbit moving as close as ~60 solar radii (RS), or 0.284 astronomical units (AU), placing it inside Mercury's perihelion of 0.3075 AU and providing it with the closest ever views of the Sun.
The spacecraft will make a close approach to the Sun every five months. Around closest approach Solar Orbiter will be positioned for several days over roughly the same region of the solar atmosphere like geostationary satellites are stationed over particular spots on the Earth's surface, so the spacecraft will seem to 'hover' for a while over the Sun. Solar Orbiter will therefore be able to watch magnetic activity building up in the atmosphere that can lead to powerful solar flare or eruptions.
Researchers will also have the chance to co-ordinate observations with NASA's planned Solar Probe Plus mission which will make in situ measurements in the Sun's extended corona.
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Wikipedia