Solar Orbiter is a three-axis stabilized spacecraft designed to monitor
through remote sensing and in situ
measurements the state of the solar corona and the inner heliosphere. Its orbit is characterized by
periods of close approach to the Sun (perihelion of about 0.22 AU) with near corotation, and into a later
phase of the mission, an excursion out of the plane of the ecliptic up to 32
degrees. This will provide us the first-ever-seen images of the
sun's poles from such a vantage point. |
The spacecraft is equipped with remote sensing and in situ instruments for an out-of-ecliptic detection. The wide coverage of the insitu mesurements (eventually in combination with SPP) and the proximity of the remote sensing measurements (which provide the context to interpret the insitu data as well) are one the most innovative features of the mission which, for the first time, will allow to:
- Explore the uncharted innermost regions of our solar system;
- Study the Sun from close-up
- Fly by the Sun tuned to its rotation, examine solar surface and space above from a co-rotating vantage point
- Provide images and spectral observations of the Sun polar regions from out of the ecliptic
- Which physical conditions and processes govern the plasma, fields, and particles in the Sun-Heliosphere system?
- What are the origins of the solar wind structures and the heliospheric magnetic field?
- What drives the flow of mass and energy through the magnetically coupled layers of the solar atmosphere and into the heliosphere?
- What processes generate the solar magnetic cycle and the associated variability in the corona and heliosphere?
More informations about the SO mission can be found at the ESA Solar Orbiter Homepage
List of Solar Orbiter Instruments (more ...)
| Remote-sensing instruments | Purpose & science objectives |
|
VIM Visible light Imager and Magnetograph |
Measure the magnetic and velocity fields in the photosphere Analysis of subphotospheric flows, vector magnetograms |
|
EUS EUV Spectrometer |
Provide coronal plasma diagnostic throughout a wide range of temperatures and densities |
|
EUI EUV Imager |
Provide very high spatial resolution of the solar corona to
investigate the fundamental size of its structures Provide full sun images of the corona at unique location (poles) and give contextual analysis for other remote and in situ instruments |
|
COR Coronograph |
Investigate origin of slow solar wind in streamers Determine the large-scale geometry of the corona from out-of-ecliptic plane Study the F-corona |
|
STIX Spectrometer Telescope for imaging X-rays |
Study the energetics and timing of energetic electron events Provide localization and morphology of solar sources Make joint observations with Sentinel similar instruments for Xray emission directivity |
| Heliospheric Imager/Wild Field Coronograph | To extend coronagraph observation range and provide heliospheric context images for Orbiter and Sentinels |
Remote-sensing payload onboard Solar Orbiter [adapted from ESA Solar_Orbiter_PDDv6]
| In situ instruments | Purpose & science objectives |
|
SWA Solar Wind plasma Analyzer |
Measurements and constrains on kinetic plasma properties Investigate solar wind acceleration process in the inner corona Correlation with remote-sensing observations of stream elements |
|
RPW Radio and Plasma Wave Analyzer |
Measurement of electric and magnetic fields Measurement of electrostatic waves near the spacecraft Remote-sensing radio observations of energetic phenomena |
|
MAG Magnetometer |
Vector measurement of the solar wind magnetic field |
|
EPD Energetic Particle Detector |
Measurement of properties and origin of SEP events (generation, release, propagation) Correlation of SEP properties with remote-sensing obervations of solar events Investigate, close to the Sun, the properties of gradual and impulsive SEPs Characterize pick-up particles properties created by interaction of the solar wind and interplanetary dust |
|
PD Dust Particle Detector |
Measurement of in situ properties (distribution, mass, dynamics) of dust particles in the inner heliosphere |
In situ payload onboard Solar Orbiter [adapted from ESA Solar_Orbiter_PDDv6]