Solar Orbiter

The Solar Orbiter (SolO) is an ESA Solar research spacecraft, launched in February 2020. It began its science observation in November 2021, aiming for at least 5 years. Its orbital eccentricity will be increased during observation (reaching a perihelion of 0.28 AU, well within Mercury's orbit) as well as its orbital inclination (reaching 25°). Achieving this will require more than three years, using repeated gravity assists from Venus. (The Parker Solar Probe also currently orbits close to the Sun, reaching a perihelion of 0.046 AU.) SolO instruments include:

• SWA (Solar Wind Analyzer).
• EPD (Energetic Particle Detector).
• MAG (Magnetometer).
• RPW (Radio and Plasma Wave analyzer).
• PHI (Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager).
• EUI (Extreme Ultraviolet Imager).
• SPICE (Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment).
• STIX (Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays).
• Metis - coronagraph.
• SoloHI (Heliospheric Imager).