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Solar Orbiter

Overview

Solar Orbiter is designed to identify the origins and causes of the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, the solar energetic particles, the transient interplanetary disturbances, and the Sun's magnetic field.

RAL Space involvement

RAL Space leads an international consortium that designed, developed and calibrated an Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer, SPICE (Spectral Investigation of the Coronal Environment). The RAL Space team will also be involved in the post-launch operations of SPICE.
Focus
Solar and space physics
Partners
ESA, IAS (France), MPS (Germany), PMOD (Switzerland), NASA GSFC (USA), SwRI (USA), ITA (University of Oslo)​
Launch date
February 2020
Mission Status

Mission Objectives

Top-level scientific questions that will be addressed by Solar Orbiter:
  • What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate from?
  • How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?
    How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?​
  • How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere?

RAL Space's Role

Instrument Consortium Lead

  • Led the consortium which designed and built the SPICE instrument
  • Provided camera Front End Electronics

Co-Principal Investigator

  • Commissioned the instrument after launch, contributions to operations and science
Several people standing around a large flight case.

Spectral Investigation of the Coronal Environment (SPICE)

SPICE developed by an international consortium led by STFC RAL Space and is now operated by RAL Space experts in collaboration with partners across Europe and the US. SPICE is a high-resolution imaging spectrometer designed to make observations at extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. RAL Space led the international consortium that designed and built SPICE and has been responsible for the successful commissioning of the instrument after launch.​

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