The Solar Orbiter Mission has successfully launched to investigate the Sun, utilizing cutting-edge technology for this pioneering endeavor.

On February 10, 2020, the Atlas V rocket ignited its engines at Cape Canaveral, propelling the Solar Orbiter spacecraft towards our local star. This mission, spearheaded by the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to explore the Sun with an innovative suite of instruments.

This mission marks the first instance where a spacecraft will closely examine the Sun's polar regions—areas previously obscured from Earth-based observations and prior missions.

“Upon reaching its designated orbit, the spacecraft will come within 42 million kilometers (26 million miles) of the Sun and will capture detailed images of its polar regions for the first time,” stated Carsten Henselowsky, Project Manager for the Solar Orbiter at the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Over its planned seven-year mission, the Solar Orbiter will gather data on the Sun’s electric fields, energetic particles emitted by the Sun, and seismic waves traversing through our star.

The Heliophere: A Layer of Influence

The heliosphere, a plasma bubble surrounding the Sun, plays a crucial role in understanding space weather that can impact electronic communications and pose risks to space missions. As human exploration of the Solar System increases, understanding these phenomena becomes essential.

“The Sun is vital for life on Earth, and while we have investigated its workings for ages, we also recognize its potential to disrupt our daily lives with powerful solar storms. By the conclusion of the Solar Orbiter mission, we will have deeper insights into the forces that influence the Sun's behavior and its effects on our planet,” explained Günther Hasinger, ESA's Director of Science.

The Solar Orbiter's Features and Journey

Weighing in at 1,800 kg (3,970 pounds) and measuring 18 meters (59 feet) long, the Solar Orbiter will experience extreme temperatures ranging from -180°C (-292°F) to over 500°C (930°F) as it orbits the Sun—13 times hotter than satellites in Earth's orbit.

Reaching the Sun requires substantial energy. The spacecraft will perform several close encounters with Venus and Earth, ultimately reaching its final orbit within 18 months. After a close flyby of Venus, it will slingshot out of the solar system's ecliptic plane, targeting an orbit around the Sun's poles.

Throughout its journey, the spacecraft will take local measurements between Earth and the Sun. Once it reaches 42 million kilometers (26 million miles) from its destination, its remote sensing instruments will begin transmitting data back to Earth.

Ten instruments are currently en route to the Sun to advance our understanding of solar science. Each instrument, much like the ten optical receptors in horseshoe crabs, will analyze light at various frequencies to gather essential data.

Instrument Highlights:

• Energetic Particle Detector (EPD): This device will investigate high-energy particles from the Sun, studying the solar wind's composition and its temporal changes.
• Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI): EUI will produce images of the Sun's atmospheric layers, including the chromosphere, transition region, and corona.
• Heliospheric Imager (SoloHI): This instrument will detect light scattered by solar wind electrons, looking for unusual activities indicative of coronal mass ejections.
• Magnetometer (MAG): MAG will analyze the Sun's magnetic field and its variations, shedding light on how the solar corona is heated and how energy travels via solar wind.
• Metis: Coronagraph: Capable of capturing images in both visible and ultraviolet light, this instrument will investigate the solar atmosphere up to 2,150,000 km (1,340,000 miles) from the Sun's surface.
• Multi Element Telescope for Imaging and Spectroscopy (METIS): This tool will photograph the solar corona in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, searching for lower and higher-energy activities surrounding the Sun.
• Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI): Developed by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research and the Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics, PHI will observe the velocities of material in the Sun's photosphere and its magnetic fields.
• Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW): This instrument will measure variations in electromagnetic fields around the Sun, enabling both in situ and remote sensing studies.
• Solar Wind Plasma Analyser (SWA): SWA will assess solar wind properties such as density, velocity, and temperature, and analyze its particle composition.
• Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE): SPICE will investigate extreme ultraviolet wavelengths to explore plasma properties within the solar corona.
• Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX): STIX will observe the Sun in X-rays, providing data on solar flare timing, location, and intensity, thereby enhancing our understanding of the solar wind.

Reflections on Our Place in the Universe

> “In less than a hundred years, we have found a new way to think of ourselves. From sitting at the center of the universe, we now find ourselves orbiting an average-sized sun, which is just one of millions of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy.” — Stephen Hawking

After its launch, the spacecraft successfully confirmed its separation from the upper stage of the launcher, sending a signal back to Earth that was received at a ground station in New Norcia, Western Australia.

In addition to its unique objectives, the Solar Orbiter will coordinate measurements with NASA's Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018. While Parker approaches much closer to the Sun, it lacks the instruments for direct solar measurements. Their intersecting orbits will allow both missions to explore solar phenomena comprehensively.

“Solar Orbiter is the latest addition to the NASA Heliophysics System Observatory, joining the Parker Solar Probe in a remarkable quest to unveil the greatest mysteries of the Sun and its extended atmosphere,” noted Holly Gilbert, NASA Solar Orbiter Project Scientist.

Together, the Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe are set to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun and the solar system we inhabit.

About the Author

James Maynard is the founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. Originally from New England, he now resides in Tucson with his wife, Nicole, and their cat, Max.

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