Thread by @ESASolarOrbiter

Launched in February, #SolarOrbiter performed its first close approach to the #Sun in mid June, getting just 77 million km from its surface and capturing the closest ever images of our parent star 🌞🛰️📷

These brand new views will be released tomorrow. Stay tuned #TheSunUpClose

An international collaboration between ESA and NASA, #SolarOrbiter lofted to space aboard the US Atlas V 411 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 05:03 CET on 10 February (23:03 EST on 9 February).

Relive the excitement of the launch:

The mission of #SolarOrbiter: to perform unprecedented close-up observations of the #Sun – including from high latitudes, obtaining views of the Sun's poles – and investigate the Sun-Earth connection.

Find out more about the mysteries it is out to solve: esa.int/Science_Explor…

It will take #SolarOrbiter just under 2 years to reach its initial operational orbit, taking advantage of gravity-assist flybys of Earth and Venus. Eventually, the spacecraft will get as close as 42 million km from the #Sun's surface.

Explore the journey:

An international collaboration between ESA and NASA, #SolarOrbiter lofted to space aboard the US Atlas V 411 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 05:03 CET on 10 February (23:03 EST on 9 February).

Relive the excitement of the launch:

The mission of #SolarOrbiter: to perform unprecedented close-up observations of the #Sun – including from high latitudes, obtaining views of the Sun's poles – and investigate the Sun-Earth connection.

Find out more about the mysteries it is out to solve: esa.int/Science_Explor…

It will take #SolarOrbiter just under 2 years to reach its initial operational orbit, taking advantage of gravity-assist flybys of Earth and Venus. Eventually, the spacecraft will get as close as 42 million km from the #Sun's surface.

Explore the journey:

Since launch, #SolarOrbiter has already completed its commissioning phase, making sure that the spacecraft and its suite of 10 instruments are ready for #science.

This phase entailed extra challenges due to the limitations imposed by the current pandemic: esa.int/Science_Explor…

Soon after, on 15 June, #SolarOrbiter had its first perihelion – the closest approach to the #Sun along its orbit, 77 million km away. This is closer to the Sun than any other solar telescope has ever been before, and it will get much closer in the future: esa.int/Science_Explor…

These unique views of the #Sun – taken during #SolarOrbiter's first close approach – will be released on 16 July in an online press briefing with mission experts from Europe & the US.

Join us from 08:00 EDT/14:00 CEST
esawebtv.esa.int

Are you ready to see #TheSunUpClose?