The spacecraft also will provide the first-ever images of the Sun’s poles and the never-before-observed magnetic environment there, which helps drive the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle and its periodic outpouring of solar storms. Īn international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, Solar Orbiter will observe the Sun with high spatial resolution telescopes and capture observations in the environment directly surrounding the spacecraft to create a one-of-a-kind picture of how the Sun can affect the space environment throughout the solar system. It will be a dark winter’s night when Solar Orbiter launches from Florida on its journey to the source of all light on Earth, the Sun. View on NASA Television or on the web at. Guenther Hasinger, Director of Science, European Space Agency.Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, NASA Science Mission Directorate.Nicky Fox, Director, NASA Heliophysics Division Solar Orbiter A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket launched the Solar Orbiter mission on Monday, Februat 4:03 AM (UTC).Daniel Mueller, Solar Orbiter Project Scientist, European Space Agency.Jessica Williams, 45th Space Wing Weather Officer.Scott Messer, NASA LSP Program Manager, United Launch Alliance.Tim Dunn, Launch Director, NASA Launch Services Program.Solar Orbiter’s elliptical science orbit, with a closest point at 42 million km from the star’s surface, will take the spacecraft within the orbit of the planet Mercury. Alan Zide, Solar Orbiter Program Executive, NASA Headquarters During its 21-month cruise, the spacecraft will take advantage of the gravity of Earth and Venus to place itself into the correct orbit around the Sun.Ian Walters, Project Manager Solar Orbiter, Airbus Defence and Space.Cesar Garcia, Solar Orbiter Project Manager, European Space Agency.Two televised briefings are planned for today:ġ to 2 p.m. This is a standard prelaunch review in which all parties review outstanding items and ensure the rocket, spacecraft and teams are “go” for launch. Launch and mission managers from the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA and ULA are meeting at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the launch readiness review. The primary weather concerns at launch time are potential violation of the cumulus cloud rule and ground winds. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Air Force’s 45th Weather Squadron are predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions for the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Launching in 2020, Solar Orbiter’s study of the Sun will shed light on its magnetic structure and the many forces that shape solar activity.Ĭredits: Spacecraft: ESA/ATG medialab Sun: NASA/SDO/P. Solar Orbiter will capture the very first images of the Sun’s polar regions, where magnetic tension builds up and releases in a lively dance.
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