Solar OrbiterSolar Orbiter

ContentsContents

The missionThe mission The orbitThe orbit The instrumentsThe instruments VIM: VIM: Visible-light Imager and Visible-light Imager and

MagnetographMagnetograph Helioseismology with VIMHelioseismology with VIM

Solar Orbiter: the missionSolar Orbiter: the mission

Mission: Assessment phase Instruments: Concept phase Objective: Produce images of the Sun at an

unprecedented resolution and perform closest in-situ measurements

Launch: May 2015 End: January 2024 Cruise phase(3y), nominal phase(3y),

extended phase(2y). Solar Electric Propulsion Chemical

Propulsion

Solar OrbiterSolar Orbiter

http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120384_index_0_m.html

Solar Orbiter: the orbitSolar Orbiter: the orbit

Elliptical orbit around the Sun

Proximity to the Sun up to 0.27 A.U

Inclination of up to 35º

Cruise phase of approx. 3.4 year using

gravity assists from Venus and Earth.

150-day-long science orbit.

Close encounters with the Sun.

Venus gravity assist maneuvers to

increase inclination.

Solar Orbiter: the orbitSolar Orbiter: the orbit

Assisted by a Assisted by a series of Venus series of Venus swing-bys, the swing-bys, the spacecraft’s spacecraft’s 150-day orbit 150-day orbit will evolve will evolve gradually over gradually over the mission the mission lifetime from lifetime from an inclination an inclination of about 12 to of about 12 to 35 degrees to 35 degrees to the solar the solar equator.equator.

http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=33489

Solar Orbiter: the orbitSolar Orbiter: the orbit

Solar Orbiter: the Solar Orbiter: the instrumentsinstruments

Field Package:Field Package: Radio and Plasma Wave AnalyzerRadio and Plasma Wave Analyzer Coronal Radio Sounding and MagnetometerCoronal Radio Sounding and Magnetometer

Particle Package:Particle Package: Energetic Particle detectorEnergetic Particle detector Dust detectorDust detector Neutron and Gamma-Ray DetectorNeutron and Gamma-Ray Detector Solar Wind Plasma AnalyzerSolar Wind Plasma Analyzer

Solar remote sensing Solar remote sensing instrumentation:instrumentation: Visible-light Imager and Magnetograph Visible-light Imager and Magnetograph

(VIM)(VIM) EUV Imager and SpectrometerEUV Imager and Spectrometer CoronagraphCoronagraph Spectometer/Telescope for Imaging X-raysSpectometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays Radiometer ???Radiometer ???

Visible-Light Imager and Visible-Light Imager and MagnetographMagnetograph (VIM) (VIM)

Vector magnetic field capabilities (priority).Vector magnetic field capabilities (priority). Line-of-sight velocity maps by observing 4-5 Line-of-sight velocity maps by observing 4-5

points on either side of a spectral line. Mention points on either side of a spectral line. Mention

the possible linesthe possible lines HMI, IMaX, GONG. HMI, IMaX, GONG. Two functions:Two functions:

High resolution Telescope (HRT)High resolution Telescope (HRT) Full Disc Telescope (FDT)Full Disc Telescope (FDT)

Using two telescopes that share filtergraph optics and Using two telescopes that share filtergraph optics and

detector.detector. Magnetic field and velocities calculated on boardMagnetic field and velocities calculated on board Telemetry restricted and only approx. ¼ of total Telemetry restricted and only approx. ¼ of total

VIM telemetry will be assigned to velocity data.VIM telemetry will be assigned to velocity data.

Local Helioseismology with Local Helioseismology with VIMVIM

AdvantagesAdvantages

Observation of high latitudes and the polesObservation of high latitudes and the poles Some very high resolution dataSome very high resolution data Proximity to the sun. Not really needed for Proximity to the sun. Not really needed for

helioseismologyhelioseismology Co-rotation (not clear what it means)Co-rotation (not clear what it means) Maybe continuous 256x256 full disk dataMaybe continuous 256x256 full disk data

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Short series of data (~10 days every 50 days)Short series of data (~10 days every 50 days) Variable resolution in a 512x512 grid (or less)Variable resolution in a 512x512 grid (or less)

Local Helioseismology with Local Helioseismology with VIMVIM

Dynamic/Magnetic description of the solar subsurface at Dynamic/Magnetic description of the solar subsurface at high latitudes and the poles.high latitudes and the poles.

Rings:Rings: Differential rotation close to the poles.Differential rotation close to the poles. Meridional circulation: Solve the multi-cell circulation Meridional circulation: Solve the multi-cell circulation

mystery…mystery…

Time Distance:Time Distance: Dynamics down to the tacholine at the poles.Dynamics down to the tacholine at the poles. Combined VIM-HMI/GONG for deep interior research.Combined VIM-HMI/GONG for deep interior research.

HolographyHolography Farside calibration/mapping the near sideFarside calibration/mapping the near side Mapping the poles.Mapping the poles.