STEREO
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| This article documents a current spaceflight. Information may change rapidly as the mission progresses. | Image:Thermal protection system inspections from ISS - Shuttle nose.jpg |
- For other uses, see Stereo (disambiguation).
| STEREO
<tr><td style="border-top:1px solid #999966; text-align: center;" colspan="2">Image:STEREO spacecraft.gif | |
|---|---|
| Organization: | NASA
<tr><th bgcolor="#CCCCCC">Major Contractors:</th><th>Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory</th></tr> |
| Mission type: | Solar Terrestrial Probes |
| edit | |
STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) is a solar observation mission which was launched on 26 October 2006 at 00:52 GMT.<ref>NASA Launch Schedule. NASA Missions (September 20, 2006). Retrieved on September 20, 2006.</ref> Two identical spacecraft were launched into orbits that cause them to (respectively) pull further ahead and fall gradually behind the earth. This will enable stereoscopic imaging of the Sun and solar phenomena, such as Coronal Mass Ejections.
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[edit] Mission profile
On November 9 2005 both spacecraft were shipped from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to Goddard Space Flight Center, in preparation for launch<ref>STEREO Mission Status (November 2005). Retrieved on May 30, 2006.</ref>. As of May 3, 2006, the twin spacecraft were undergoing final pre-launch tests and preparations at the Astrotech Spacecraft Processing Facility in Florida. The Delta II rocket destined to carry the STEREO spacecraft into orbit was being assembled at Launch Complex 17. The STEREO spacecraft were scheduled to be mated to the Delta II on July 10, 2006.<ref>STEREO Mission Status (May 2006). Retrieved on May 30, 2006.</ref> <ref>Kaiser M. L. (2005). "The STEREO mission: an overview". Solar Encounter, Solar-B and Stereo Advances in Space Research 36 (8): 1483-1488.</ref>
They were launched into a highly elliptical geocentric orbits in late 2006, with an apogee at approximately the distance of the Moon. Two months afterwards (on the fifth orbit) the pair swing by the moon for a gravitational slingshot. This slingshot will maneuver the behind spacecraft (designated "B") to a heliocentric orbit outside Earth's orbit. The ahead spacecraft ("A") will encounter the moon again on the same orbital revolution, placing it into a heliocentric orbit inside the Earth's. Spacecraft A will take 347 days to complete one revolution of the sun, with Spacecraft B taking 387 days. They will retreat from the earth by about 22° per earth year.
[edit] Instrumentation
Each of the spacecraft carry cameras, particle experiments and radio detectors in four instrument packages:
- Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) - SECCHI has five cameras: an extreme ultraviolet imager and two white-light coronagraphs (collectively known as the Sun Centered Instrument Package or SCIP), which image the solar disk and the inner and outer corona, plus two heliospheric imagers (called the HI), which image the space between Sun and Earth. The purpose of SECCHI is to study the 3-D evolution of Coronal Mass Ejections through their full journey from the Sun's surface through the corona and interplanetary medium to their impact at Earth.<ref name=inst>STEREO Spacecraft & Instruments. NASA Missions (March 8, 2006). Retrieved on May 30, 2006.</ref> <ref>Howard R. A., Moses J. D., Socker D. G., Dere K. P., Cook J. W. (2002). "Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI)". Solar Variabilit and Solar Physics Missions Advances in Space Research 29 (12): 2017-2026.</ref>
- In-situ Measurements of Particles and CME Transients (IMPACT) - IMPACT will study energy particles and magnetic fields of the Sun.<ref name=inst /> <ref>Luhmann J. G., Curtis D. W., Lin R. P., Larson D, Schroeder P., Cummings A., Mewaldt R. A., Stone E. C., Davis A., von Rosenvinge T., Acuna M. H., Rearnes D., Ng C., Ogilvie K., Mueller-Mellin R., Kunow H., Mason G. M., Wiedenbeck M., Sauvaud A., Aoustin C., Louarn P., Dandouras J., Korth A., Bothmer V., Vasyliunas V., Sanderson T., Marsden R. G., Russell C. T., Gosling J. T., Bougeret J. L., McComas D. J., Linker J. A., Riley P., Odstrcil D., Pizzo V. J., Gombosi T., DeZeeuw D., Gombosi T., DeZeeuw D., Kecskemety K. (2005). "IMPACT: Science goals and firsts with STEREO". Solar Encounter, Solar-B and Stereo Advances in Space Research 36 (8): 1534-1543.</ref>
- PLAsma and SupraThermal Ion Composition (PLASTIC) - PLASTIC will study the plasma characteristics of protons, alpha particles and heavy ions.<ref name=inst />
- STEREO/WAVES (SWAVES) - SWAVES is a radio burst tracker that will study radio disturbances traveling from the Sun to the orbit of Earth.<ref name=inst />
- Attitude determination - Each STEREO spacecraft has a primary and backup Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (MIMU), provided by Honeywell, which measure changes to the spacecraft attitude<ref>Honeywell To Provide Miniature Inertial Measurement Units For STEREO Spacecraft. Web. Honeywell International, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-10-25.</ref>. Each MIMU is equipped with three ring-laser gyroscopes to detect angular changes.
[edit] See also
- SOHO, solar observatory launched in 1995, still operational.
- Ulysses probe, 1990 mission, still operational.
- Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), launched 1997, still operational.
- Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE), launched 1998, still operational.
- GoreSat
[edit] References
<references/>
- STEREO spacecraft to image solar blasts in glorious 3-D, New Scientist December 9 2005
- Orbit simulations, on the NASA site
[edit] External links
| Orbiters: Pioneer 6, 7, 8 and 9 | Helios probes | Ulysses probe | Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) | Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager | Hinode | STEREO | TRACE | ACE | |
| Sample return: Genesis (spacecraft) | |
| Future: Solar Dynamics Observatory | Solar Orbiter | |
| See also: Sun | Exploration of the Sun | |
de:STEREO hu:STEREO ja:STEREO nl:STEREO (ruimtemissie) nn:STEREO pl:STEREO (sondy)
