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APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 5:06 am
by APOD Robot
Launch of the Solar Orbiter
Explanation: How does weather on the Sun affect humanity? To help find out, the
European Space Agency (ESA) and
NASA have just launched the
Solar Orbiter. This Sun-circling robotic spaceship will monitor the Sun's changing light,
solar wind, and
magnetic field not only from the usual perspective of Earth but also from above and below the Sun.
Pictured, a long duration exposure of the
launch of the
Solar Orbiter shows the graceful arc of the bright engines of
United Launch Alliance's
Atlas V rocket as they
lifted the satellite off the
Earth. Over the next few years, the
Solar Orbiter will use the
gravity of Earth and Venus to
veer out of the
plane of the planets and closer to the
Sun than Mercury.
Violent weather on the Sun, including
solar flares and
coronal mass ejections, has shown the ability to
interfere with power grids on the Earth and
communications satellites in Earth orbit. The Solar Orbiter is expected to coordinate observations with the also Sun-orbiting
Parker Solar
Probe launched in 2018.
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 5:16 am
by bystander
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:14 am
by SpaceCadet
How long will it take for the orbiter to get into position?
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 12:50 pm
by Boomer12k
"Up, Up.... and a way!!!!"
Or....my other one.... "...and it's a grand slam home run...out of the PARK!!!"
And it is a great image, and looks cool going up over the clouds.
:---[===] *
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm
by neufer
A nighttime launch of a solar mission
When will they ever learn
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:19 pm
by orin stepanek
Solar Orbiter to "coordinate observations with Parker Solar Probe"
Also makes a beautiful photo!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:21 pm
by TheZuke!
"This Sun-circling robotic spaceship will monitor the Sun's changing light, solar wind, and magnetic field not only from the usual perspective of Earth but also from"
How is this spaceship going to monitor the Sun, from Earth, AND outer space?
B^)
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:24 pm
by bystander
neufer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm
A nighttime launch of a solar mission
When will they ever learn
Maybe they figured that by the time the orbiter caught up it would be daytime.
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:26 pm
by bystander
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:57 pm
by neufer
bystander wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:24 pm
neufer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm
A nighttime launch of a solar mission!
When will they ever learn?
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Maybe they figured that by the time the orbiter caught up it would be daytime.
Sounds like a risky strategy to me. (Maybe they can redirect it to a different star.)
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:41 pm
by pshaw
neufer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:57 pm
bystander wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:24 pm
neufer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 11, 2020 1:06 pm
A nighttime launch of a solar mission!
When will they ever learn?
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
Maybe they figured that by the time the orbiter caught up it would be daytime.
Sounds like a risky strategy to me. (Maybe they can redirect it to a different star.)
What? Now wait a minute, of course it was a nighttime launch - everybody knows it's too hot to visit the sun during the day!
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 4:44 am
by THX1138
When our robot masters return I for one will be happy to both serve and oil them regularly
Re: APOD: Launch of the Solar Orbiter (2020 Feb 11)
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 8:54 pm
by daddyo
The coordination with Parker might make for some really interesting 3-D images/movies of flares, or views into those "magnetic windows" previously mentioned here:
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200203.html