Solar Orbiter at IABG
ESA's Solar Orbiter at IABG in Ottobrunn, Germany, before it starts its journey to Cape Canaveral in Florida, USA.
Solar Orbiter will perform a close-up study of our Sun and the Sun-Earth connection to better understand the behaviour of the star on which our lives depend.
At its closest point, the spacecraft will operate from within the orbit of Mercury, providing unique data and imagery of the Sun.
Solar Orbiter is an ESA-led mission with NASA participation and will be launched from Cape Canaveral in February 2020.
The photo was taken on 17 October 2019.
Last Update: 22 October 2019