Thread by @ESA_History

#OTD 30 years ago: 6 October 1990, the joint ESA/NASA #Ulysses spacecraft was launched by the Shuttle #Discovery from @NASAKennedy. Ulysses was the first mission to study the environment above and below the poles of the Sun 👉 esa.int/Our_Activities… @esascience @NASAhistory

During its 17.5 years in space, ESA/NASA #Ulysses rewarded scientists with the unprecedented depth and breadth of its results, not just about the Sun and its influence, but also with surprising insights into the nature of our galaxy and the Universe 👉 esa.int/Science_Explor…

ESA/NASA #Ulysses was designed to last for five years but the mission was extended four times, allowing Ulysses to pass over the Sun's poles for a second and third time, and spending more than 17 years in space.

#ICYMI 😉Check out the launch highlights and coverage of ESA/NASA #Ulysses deployment #OTD in 1990👇

Here are some resources on the ESA/NASA #Ulysses mission: first up, a great two-piece write-up for the 25th anniversary by @AmericaSpace 👉americaspace.com/2015/10/10/man…

We're loving the #retro 90s artwork produced for the ESA/NASA #Ulysses mission! nasa.fandom.com/wiki/Ulysses_(…

Here's a photo of ESA/NASA #Ulysses at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for preflight checkout and testing in June 1990 esa.int/ESA_Multimedia… (pic: ESA/NASA)

And here's ESA/NASA #Ulysses in the ESTEC Test Centre in the Netherlands, in November 1989 👉esa.int/ESA_Multimedia…

ESA has a long history of studying the Sun from space. With the success of #Ulysses, we have led or cooperated on several Sun-exploring missions including #SOHO, #Cluster and #Proba2. Today, together with @ESASolarOrbiter, they continue this exploration👇