GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Mission to the Sun

Michael Steinhart | Date: 03-10-10 | Comments

The recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory will shed new light on the sun's activity.

About three weeks ago, NASA launched the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), a spacecraft designed to record and analyze solar activity from a geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth.

The Solar Dynamics Observatory studies the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and in many wavelengths simultaneously.

According to the official SDO site, the observatory relays its information to a ground station in New Mexico, which then transfers it to a supercomputer array in Palo Alto, Calif. From the site:

"The research is expected to reveal the sun's inner workings by taking high-resolution images of the sun, collecting readings from inside the sun and measuring its magnetic field activity. This data is expected to give researchers the insight they need to eventually predict solar storms and other activity on the sun that can affect spacecraft in orbit, astronauts on the International Space Station, and electronic and other systems on Earth.

"� Images with 10 times greater resolution than high-definition television, recorded every 0.75 seconds, will reveal every nuance of solar activity. Because such fast cadences have never been attempted before by an orbiting observatory, the potential for discovery is great. To handle the load, NASA has set up a pair of dedicated radio antennas near Las Cruces, New Mexico. SDO's geosynchronous orbit will keep the observatory in constant view of the two 18-meter dishes around the clock for the duration of the observatory's five-year prime mission. Not a single bit should be lost."

The SDO studies the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and in many wavelengths simultaneously. It�s sending HD images for research and analysis at a rate of 130M bps.

NASA says the SDO will provide better-quality, more comprehensive science data faster than any spacecraft currently studying the sun. Its analysis of solar activity will help NASA track fluctuations in levels of ionizing radiation. This radiation can affect polar aircraft flights, satellites, power grids, and even the signals for GPS units, television broadcasts and telecommunications.

The SDO comprises three scientific tools:
- The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) is an array of four telescopes that will observe the surface and atmosphere of the sun. The AIA filters cover 10 different wavelength bands that are selected to reveal key aspects of solar activity.
- The Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) will measure fluctuations in the sun�s ultraviolet output.
- The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) will map solar magnetic fields and scan beyond the sun�s opaque surface using a technique called helioseismology. A key goal of this experiment is to decipher the physics of the sun�s magnetic dynamo.
The SDO is currently en route to its final orbit, and it is expected to begin transmitting data in mid-May.

What do you think about NASA�s latest exploratory venture? Sound off in our comments section.