Mission to the Sun: Main categorization and examples of all space missions to Sun till date
PHYSICXION: Mission to the Sun: Main categorization and examples of all space missions to Sun till date
Mission to the Sun: Main categorization and examples of all space missions to the Sun till date
The Sun stands as the center of wonder in our solar system, its mysteries holding profound importance for humanity. Deciphering its enigmatic processes and behavior is paramount, offering vital insights that aid our understanding of space weather, safeguarding technology, and advancing our knowledge of the cosmos. Studying the Sun is not only an astronomical endeavor but a crucial step in securing our future on Earth and in space.
So many trials for experiments and observations have happened yet to date to know the sun in a better way. Spacecraft launched for the study of the Sun typically fall into several categories based on their intended missions and scientific objectives. some of the common types of spacecraft launched and under planning for future solar studies can be classified as orbiter types and others.
Orbiter-Type:
An orbiter is a spacecraft that orbits a celestial body. It is equipped with a variety of instruments to study the body's atmosphere, magnetic field, and other properties.
A solar orbiter is an orbiter that orbits the Sun. It does not orbit any specific planet or moon. Solar orbiters are used to study the Sun and its environment, such as the solar wind and the heliosphere. It can be categorized as:
1. Solar Observatories:
These are spacecraft that orbit the Sun or another object in space and study it from a distance. They are equipped with a variety of instruments to study the object's atmosphere, magnetic field, and other properties.
Solar space observatories are designed to observe the Sun from various vantage points in space, providing continuous monitoring of the solar surface, corona, and solar wind.
Examples: Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Solar Orbiter.
2. Solar Probes:
These are spacecraft that fly by or enter the atmosphere of another object in space. They are often equipped with instruments that can withstand the harsh conditions of space.
Solar probes are spacecraft designed to approach the Sun closely, entering the solar corona to study its properties up close.
Examples: NASA's Parker Solar Probe, ADITYA-L1.
3. Solar Telescopes:
These are spacecrafts that are used to observe objects in space, including the Sun. They are equipped with powerful lenses or mirrors that can magnify the objects they are observing.
These spacecraft are equipped with specialized telescopes and instruments for capturing high-resolution images and spectra of the Sun.
Example: Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST).
4. Solar Sails:
These are spacecraft that use the pressure of sunlight to propel themselves through space. They are still in the early stages of development, but they have the potential to be used for a variety of missions, including solar exploration.
Example: The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 tested solar sailing technology.
5. Space Weather Satellites:
These are spacecraft that study the Sun's activity and its effects on Earth's space environment including the solar wind and its effects on our planet's magnetosphere. They are used to monitor solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other events that can have a significant impact on Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. Examples of solar weather satellites include
Example: NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) include instruments for solar monitoring.
Other:
1. Solar Landers and Rovers:
These are spacecrafts that travel across the surface of the Sun or another object in space. They can be used to study the object's surface in detail and to collect samples. There are no solar lander-rovers yet, but there are plans to send one in the future.
These different types of spacecraft play crucial roles in advancing our understanding of the Sun, its behavior, and its influence on the solar system and space weather. They contribute to space science, and solar physics, and help improve our ability to forecast and mitigate the impacts of space weather on technology and communication systems on Earth and in space.
A glimpse of solar missions launched to date, Mainly table of successful and important missions are listed below:
| Spacecraft | Organization | Date | Type | Purpose/Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer 5 | NASA | March–April 1960 | orbiter | Measured magnetic field events, particles emitted during solar flares, and the process of ionization within the interplanetary zone. |
| Pioneer 6(A) | NASA | December 1965 | orbiter | A system of space-based monitoring devices positioned around the Sun to track space weather conditions, including the measurement of solar wind, cosmic radiation, and magnetic field variations. |
| Pioneer 7(B) | NASA | August 1966 | orbiter | same as Pioneer 6(A) |
| Pioneer 8(C) | NASA | December 1967 | orbiter | same as Pioneer 6(A) |
| Pioneer 9(D) | NASA | November 1968 | orbiter | same as Pioneer 6(A) |
| Helios-A | DFVLR+NASA | November 1974 – 1982 | orbiter | observations of solar wind, magnetic and electric fields, cosmic rays and cosmic dust between Earth and Sun |
| Helios-B | DFVLR+NASA | January 1976 – 1985? | orbiter | same as above |
| ISEE-3 | NASA | 1978–1982 | orbiter | Studied solar events simultaneously with the Earth-orbiting ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 spacecraft, which were subsequently rebranded as the International Cometary Explorer (ICE) and redirected towards Comet Giacobini-Zinner. |
| Ulysses | ESA+NASA | 1994 to 1995 | orbiter | North and south polar observations |
| Wind | NASA | November 1994 | orbiter | solar wind measurements |
| SOHO | ESA+NASA | May 1996 | orbiter | investigation of Sun's core, corona, and solar wind; comet discoveries |
| ACE | NASA | August 1997 – projected until 2024 | orbiter | solar wind observations |
| Ulysses | ESA+NASA | 2000-2001 | orbiter | south and north polar observations |
| Genesis | NASA | 2001-2004 | orbiter/sample return | solar wind sample return; crash landed on return to Earth, much data salvaged |
| STEREO A | NASA | December 2006 | orbiter | stereoscopic imaging of coronal mass ejections and other solar phenomena |
| STEREO B | NASA | December 2006 – October 2014. August 2016 – October 2018 (communication lost between 1 October 2014 and 21 August 2016) NASA directed that periodic recovery operations of Stereo-B cease with last support on October 17, 2018. | orbiter | same as STEREO A |
| Ulysses | ESA+NASA | 2007-2008 | orbiter | South and north polar observations; Some data returned despite failing power and reduced transmission capacity |
| DSCOVR | NOAA | February 2015 – | orbiter | solar wind and coronal mass ejection monitoring, as well as Earth climate monitoring |
| Parker Solar Probe | NASA | November 2018 – December 2025 | orbiter/flyby | Close-range solar coronal study |
| Solar Orbiter | ESA | 10 February 2020 (launch) | orbiter | Solar and heliospheric physics |
| CuSP | NASA | 16 November 2022 | Orbiter | study of particle and magnetic field |
| ADITYA-L1 | ISRO | 2 September 2023 (launch) | orbiter | Solar corona observation |
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