On June 15 , the European Space Agency’sSolar Orbitercompleted its first close passage to the Sun . The spacecraft was 77 million kilometers ( 47.8 million nautical mile ) from the surface of our mavin , which is about halfway between the Earth and the Sun . This is just the beginning – the spacecraft will get closer and nearer over the next few age .
The orbiter is expected to take the skinny pictorial matter of the Sun yet , which will hopefully be published in about a month . Over the next few weeks , all its scientific instrument will also be test .
“ We have never accept pictorial matter of the Sun from a closer aloofness than this , ” ESA ’s Solar Orbiter Project Scientist Daniel Müller said in astatement . “ There have been higher resolution close - ups , for example lead by the four - meterDaniel K. Inouye Solar Telescopein Hawaii originally this twelvemonth . But from Earth , with the atmosphere between the scope and the Sun , you may only see a little part of the solar spectrum that you may see from space . ”
Solar Orbiter has now formally record the cruise phase angle , which will last until November 2021 when the science phase begins in full . The trade will pass Venus and Earth several clip until it is placed on an orbit that will take it as close as 42.5 million kilometer ( 26.4 million miles ) . The months between now and then will appropriate the suite of instruments to be test as well as preliminary measurements to be take in .
“ This is the first time that our in - situ instruments work at such a close aloofness to the Sun , provide us with a unparalleled sixth sense into the structure and composition of the solar wind , ” says Yannis Zouganelis , ESA ’s Solar Orbiter Deputy Project Scientist . “ For the in - situ cat’s-paw , this is not just a test , we are expecting young and exciting result . ”
Solar Orbiter wo n’t get as close to the Sun asNASA ’s Parker Solar Probe(which will get seven times close ) , but it will be the closest camera that we have ever sent towards the star . The reason why Parker is not equipped with a camera to wait at the Sun is both unproblematic and creative thinker - blowing . The energy of the Sun at that close of a space will literally cook the spacecraft if it can penetrate the warmth shield . And a tv camera is a nice big hole with a electron lens in front .
Solar Orbiter will pass Venus several time , using the gravitational force of the major planet to shift the dip of its eye socket . This will take the ballistic capsule to above and below the planing machine of the Solar System , allow the first picture of the Sun ’s poles .
The spacecraft was onlylaunched in Februarybut you ’ll be excused if that feels like years ago .
