ESA Science & Technology - Solar Orbiter
Fact Sheet
News
News
Call for Media: Solar Orbiter launch to face the Sun
ESA's new Sun explorer will be launched from Cape Canaveral on 6 February. Media are invited to Europe's mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, to follow the launch and moment of signal acquisition.
Solar Orbiter launch campaign begins
ESA's mission to the Sun has been unpacked following its arrival in Florida earlier this month, ready to begin pre-launch testing and checks.
Solar Orbiter ready to depart Europe
ESA's Solar Orbiter mission has completed its test campaign in Europe and is now being packed ready for its journey to Cape Canaveral at the end of this month, ahead of launch in February 2020.
Spotlight on ...
Spotlight on ...
Solar Orbiter's journey around the Sun
Animation showing the trajectory of Solar Orbiter around the Sun, highlighting the gravity assist manoeuvres that will enable the spacecraft to change inclination to observe the Sun from different perspectives.
Spacecraft Testing
Spacecraft Testing
#5: Electric and magnetic fields under control for Solar Orbiter
An important stage in the development of ESA's Solar Orbiter mission was completed between May and June, when a series of tests to validate the electromagnetic compatibility and magnetic properties was carried out on the spacecraft's flight model.
#4: Simulating zero gravity
#3: Good vibes for Solar Orbiter
Featured Publications
Featured Publications
ESA BR-345: Solar Orbiter - Facing the Sun
Solar Orbiter is a mission dedicated to solar and heliospheric physics. It will address big questions in Solar System science to help us understand how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere. The spacecraft will provide close-up, high-latitude observations of the Sun to gain new information about the solar wind, the heliospheric...
