2.3.2 spase://SMWG/Observatory/SolarOrbiter Solar Orbiter Spacecraft 2021-05-30T12:34:56.789 2021-05-30T12:34:56.789 Updated to SPASE Version 2.3.2 if needed, Applied quality conntrol for DOI usage, LFB The European Space Agency, ESA, Solar Orbiter mission will study the Sun from a highly elliptical orbit getting as close as 0.28 AU or 42 million km from which it will use a suite of instruments to make high-latitude observations of the Sun and heliosphere, including the magnetic field, energetic particles, solar wind, and transient phenomena. The Solar Orbiter primary science objectives are to study: * 1) the drivers of the solar wind and the origin of the coronal magnetic field to determine how solar transients drive heliospheric variability * 2) learn how solar eruptions produce the energetic particles that fill the heliosphere * 3) how the solar dynamo works and drives connections between the Sun and the heliosphere Solar Orbiter comprises a 2.5 m ⨯ 3.0 m ⨯ 2.5 m box-shaped bus with two solar panel wings spanning 18 m to supply power. Total launch mass is 1800 kg. There is a 4.4 m instrument boom and three 6.5 m antennas protruding from the spacecraft body. A carbon fiber composite, titanium layered solar shield covers one side of the spacecraft. The shield has apertures for various instruments. The spacecraft is 3-axis stabilized to keep the heat shield oriented towards the Sun. Telemetry is dual X-band through steerable medium and high-gain antennas. Low gain antennas are used in the launch and early orbit phase and are available for backup. Solar Orbiter carries two types of instruments, in-situ instruments making direct measurements of the heliospheric environment, and remote sensing instruments, which view the Sun and heliosphere from a distance. The in-situ instruments comprise: * 1) Energetic Particle Detector, EPD * 2) Magnetometer, MAG * 3) Radio and Plasma Waves sensor, RPW * 4) Solar Wind Plasma Analyser, SWA The remote-sensing instruments comprise: * 1) Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, EUI * 2) Coronagraph, METIS * 3) Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager, PHI * 4) Heliospheric Imager, SoloHI * 5) Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment, SPICE * 6) X-ray Spectrometer/Telescope, STIX The total massm of the scientific payload is 209 kg. Solar Orbiter launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 10 February 2020 at 04:03 UT or at 23:03 Eastern Standard Time, EST, on February 9th. The spacecraft launched on an Atlas 5-411 (AV-087) into a short Earth parking orbit followed by injection into an elliptical heliocentric orbit. The first perihelion will be in June 2020. The mission will use six gravity assist maneuvers during the 7-year nominal mission: +---------------------------------+ | Flyby | Planet | Encounter Date | |---------------------------------| | 1 | Venus | 2020-12-26 | | 2 | Venus | 2021-08-08 | | 3 | Earth | 2021-11-26 | | 4 | Venus | 2022-09-03 | | 5 | Venus | 2025-02-18 | | 6 | Venus | 2026-12-28 | +---------------------------------+ The series of encounters will tilt the spacecraft orbit to an inclination of 25° and will yield an orbit with a perihelion of 0.28 AU, an aphelion of 0.91 AU, and a period of 168 days. Solar Orbiter will make fourteen perihelion passes during the nominal mission. If a three year extended mission is approved, Solar Orbiter will make three more Venus flybys that will bring the inclination to 33°. +---------------------------------+ | Flyby | Planet | Encounter Date | |---------------------------------| | 7 | Venus | 2028-03-17 | | 8 | Venus | 2029-06-10 | | 9 | Venus | 2030-09-02 | +---------------------------------+ The extended mission will involve an additional eight more perihelion passes. Please acknowledge the European Space Agency, ESA European Space Agency, ESA, and National Aeronautical and Space Agency, NASA, Programs Solar Orbiter Mission spase://SMWG/Person/Cesar.Garcia.Marirrodriga ProjectManager spase://SMWG/Person/Lee.Frost.Bargatze MetadataContact Solar Orbiter Mission Web Page, ESA https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter Solar Orbiter overview with links to more detailed information, hosted by the European Space Agency, ESA en Solar Orbiter Mission Web Page, NASA https://www.nasa.gov/solar-orbiter/ Solar Orbiter overview with links to more detailed information, hosted by the National Aeronautical and Agency, NASA en SolarOrbiter Spacecraft paper, Published by Sol. Phys., Date: 2005-05-23 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-012-0085-7 Author List: Muller, D., Marsden, R. G., St. Cyr, O. C., Gilbert, H. R., & the Solar Orbiter Team Solar Orbiter Spacecraft, NSSDC Master Catalog Listing https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2020-010A NSSDC Master Catalog Listing for the Solar Orbiter Spacecraft, NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2020-010A en Heliosphere.Inner Heliosphere.NearEarth 2020-02-08T04:03:00 The start date and time listed here correspond to when Solar Orbiter was launched