[Mission][Orbit] [Timeline][Media]

Solar Orbiter and IRF, Uppsala

Solar Orbiter is ESA's mission to investigate the Sun. The Solar Orbiter was launched 2020 and will be operating at least until 2027. Our special interest is to learn about the properties of the solar wind close to its source. To investigate these, we will build parts of the electronics of the Radio and Plasma Wave instrument (RPW) necessary for measuring electric fields and plasma density fluctuations.

Solar Orbiter concept sketch (© Astrium). The yellow square is the heat shield necessary to fend off the solar heat. Two of the RPW antennas can be seen pointing down while the third points up from the spacecraft body.

For students there are possibilities to do [project work] (exjobb) related to Solar Orbiter.

More Information

• Solar Orbiter at ESA
• Solar Orbiter Working Team
• ESA videoclip describing the Solar Orbiter mission
• Solar Orbiter page at the lead RPW team at LESIA, Meudon (Frankrike).