A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE REMOTE-SENSING INSTRUMENTATION ENVISAGED FOR THE SOLAR ORBITER MISSION

摘要

This review is based in part on the model payload conceived within the ESA preliminary study, but also on the various modifications proposed at the workshop, together with some very constructive discussions that we have heard. There is an impression that the optical payload concepts, already pushing at the limits of the available spacecraft resources, may also be underestimating technical difficulties associated in particular with the high thermal flux expected. A suggested programme for the next stage includes a review of these technical difficulties, together with an effort to obtain rapid agreement on a number of system-level choices, concerned with communications aspects and pointing strategy. This will enable the payload concepts to be carried forward to a more advanced level of definition.