http://sci. esa. int/solar-orbiter/51168-summary/; https://science http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/51168-summary/; https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-orbiter ESA’s Solar Orbiter is a planned Sun-observing satellite dedicated to solar and heliospheric physics. Next slide More Information

http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/44167-objectives/ Solar Orbiter aims to make significant breakthroughs in our understanding of how the inner heliosphere works and of the effects of solar activity on it. Next slide More Information

Solar Orbiter will be placed into an orbit around the Sun coming closer than the orbit of Mercury - as close as 26 million miles away from the Sun. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-orbiter; https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/esa-sign-big-money-deal-astrium-uk-solar-orbiter/ Next slide More Information

The close-up pictures of weird solar landscapes, where glowing gas dances and forms loops in the strong magnetic field, will be stunning. Not only scientists, but also the general public will be enchanted with the frenzied activity on the Sun, which looks so calm to the naked eye. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-compare/en/ Next slide More Information

http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/55752-artists-impression-of-solar-orbiter/ Solar Orbiter is designed to always point to the Sun, its Sun-facing side protected by a sunshield. The spacecraft will be kept cool by the positioning of special radiators, which will dissipate excess heat into space. The solar arrays and the communications system are inherited from the design of ESA’s BepiColombo mission to Mercury. Next slide

Solar Orbiter Spacecraft: Front view of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft show its antennas and solar arrays. http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/44168-spacecraft/ One side wall has been removed to expose the remote-sensing instruments. Next slide Instruments More Information

http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/55588-solar-orbiter-at-stevenage/ This photo shows the structural and thermal model of the Solar Orbiter spacecraft being built. Next slide More Information

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http://sci. esa. int/solar-orbiter/51168-summary/; https://science http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/51168-summary/; https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-orbiter The Solar Orbiter program outlines key scientific questions which need to be answered about: - the development of planets and the emergence of life - how the Solar System works - the origins of the Universe - the fundamental physics at work in the Universe Return

Mission Objectives: Solar Orbiter aims to make significant breakthroughs in our understanding both of how the inner heliosphere works, and of the effects of solar activity on it. The spacecraft will take a unique combination of measurements: in situ measurements will be used alongside remote sensing close to the Sun to relate these measurements back to their source regions and structures on the Sun's surface. It will operate both in and out of the ecliptic plane. Solar Orbiter will measure solar wind plasma, fields, waves and energetic particles close enough to the Sun to ensure that they are still relatively pristine. http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/44167-objectives/ Return

When travelling at its fastest, Solar Orbiter will remain positioned over approximately the same region of the solar atmosphere as the Sun rotates on its axis, allowing unprecedented observations. The inclined orbit will allow Solar Orbiter to better image the regions around the Sun’s poles than ever before. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/solar-orbiter; https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/esa-sign-big-money-deal-astrium-uk-solar-orbiter/ Trajectory Return

Solar Orbiter Trajectory from Above Ecliptic http://ccar.colorado.edu/asen5050/projects/projects_2010/kelly/ Solar Orbiter Trajectory from Above Ecliptic Return 1 slide

At nearly one-quarter of Earth's distance from the Sun, Solar Orbiter will be exposed to sunlight 13 times more intense than what we feel on Earth. The spacecraft must also endure powerful bursts of atomic particles from explosions in the solar atmosphere. To withstand the harsh environment and extreme temperatures, Solar Orbiter must be well equipped. It will exploit new technologies being developed by ESA for the mission BepiColombo to Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun. This includes high-temperature solar arrays and a high-temperature high-gain antenna. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-compare/en/ Return

Solar Orbiter is specially designed to always point to the Sun, and so, its Sun-facing side is protected by a sunshield. The spacecraft will also be kept cool by the positioning of special radiators, which will dissipate excess heat into space. http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/55752-artists-impression-of-solar-orbiter/ The solar arrays and the communications system are inherited from the design of ESA’s BepiColombo mission to Mercury. Return

The science instruments EPD: Energy Particle Detector MAG: Magnetometer RPW: Radio and Plasma Waves SWA: Solar Wind Plasma Analyser EUI: Extreme Ultraviolet Imager METIS: Coronagraph PHI: Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager SoloHI: Heliospheric Imager SPICE: Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment STIX: X-ray Spectrometer/Telescope http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/51217-instruments/ Return More information

http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/55752-artists-impression-of-solar-orbiter/ Solar Orbiter will carry a number of highly sophisticated, lightweight instruments, weighing a total of 180 kg. One suite consists of detectors meant to observe particles and events in the immediate vicinity of the spacecraft. These include the charged particles and magnetic fields of the solar wind, radio and magnetic waves in the solar wind, and energetic charged particles. Return More information

The other set of instruments will observe the Sun's surface and atmosphere. The gas of the atmosphere is best seen by its strong emission of short-wavelength ultraviolet rays. Tuned to these will be a full-Sun and high-resolution imager and a high-resolution spectrometer. The outer atmosphere will be revealed by visible-light and ultraviolet coronagraphs that blot out the bright disc of the Sun. To examine the surface by visible light, and measure local magnetic fields, Solar Orbiter will carry a high-resolution magnetograph. Return

Statistics: Spacecraft 3-axis stabilized platform, heat shield, two adjustable solar arrays Orientation Sun-pointing Data downlink 150 kbps (at 1 AU spacecraft-Earth distance) Closest perihelion 0.28 AU Launch date October 2018 Nominal mission duration 7 years (including cruise phase) Extended mission duration 3 years Ground station Malargüe (Argentina), 35-m antenna, 4 to 8 hours/day (effective) http://sci.esa.int/solar-orbiter/44168-spacecraft/ Return