Solar Orbiter: A Challenging Mission Design for Near-Sun Observations

摘要

The Sun's atmosphere and heliosphere represent uniquely accessible domains of space, where fundamental physical processes common to solar, astrophysical and laboratory plasmas can be studied under conditions impossible to duplicate on Earth, and at a level of detail that it is not possible to achieve at astronomical distances. A Solar Obiter Mission designed to take the next step in our exploration of These domains was the topic of a technical pre-assessment study Performed in 1999 within the framework of ESA's solar Physics Planning Group.