ESA’s Solar Orbiter (SolO) will fly past Mercury on its rim to provide us with some incredible photos of the sun. This is a mission that is not only flagship category but also revolutionary. During today’s pass, ESA’s Solar Orbiter encountered increasing magnetic fields, followed by a shock. This is likely the start of a transient that could pass Earth in about two days. Read for more.
During today’s pass, @ESASolarOrbiter faced with increasing magnetic fields, followed by a shock. This is likely the start of a transient that could pass Earth in about two days. We have another pass overnight and will know more about the event tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/1t8mAdMg3T
— Solar Orbiter magnetometer (@SolarOrbiterMAG) March 8, 2022
The Solar Orbiter (SolO) spacecraft will cross Mercury’s orbit on its way to its closest approach to the sun. Meanwhile, the orbiter is collecting valuable data. ESA confirmed that next Monday the Solar Orbiter will fly directly between Earth and the Sun, or officially halfway between the Earth and the Sun. This brought the spacecraft about 46.6 million miles to Mercury.
If you think these images are spectacular, just wait for perihelion later this month when #SolarOrbiter is less than a third of the distance from Sun to Earth and enters a new phase of scientific exploration!
#ExploreFarther pic.twitter.com/QgEbOBXe6T— ESA’s Solar Orbiter (@ESASolarOrbiter) March 7, 2022
Because the Solar Orbiter sits right between the sun and Earth, it offered researchers a unique opportunity to study space weather. The sun’s steady flow of charged particles produces solar wind, which in turn can generate aurorae and occasionally disrupt electronics on Earth.
The Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a three-axis stabilized platform with a special heat shield to protect against the high levels of solar flux near perihelion. Developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA, the sun-sensing satellite is designed to obtain detailed measurements of the inner heliosphere and the rising solar wind, and will also provide accurate observations of the sun’s polar regions, which is difficult to achieve. do from Earth. These observations are important in investigating how the sun creates and controls its heliosphere. The total cost of the mission is $1.5 billion, including contributions from both ESA and NASA. SolO was launched on February 10, 2020. The mission is planned for seven years.