API VERSION: 1.2
API SOURCE: NASA/JPL Horizons API

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 Revised: Sep 01, 2026       Solar Orbiter Spacecraft / Sun                -144
                         https://sci.esa.int/web/solar-orbiter 
  https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/02/esa-solar-orbiter-atlas-v-study-sun/ 

 Solar Orbiter ("Solo"), an ESA/NASA mission, was launched 2020-Feb-10@4:03 UTC
 from Cape Canaveral, Florida (SLC-41) on an Atlas V 411 launch vehicle.

  NOTE: 
   Earth flyby November 27, 2021 @ 4:30:31 UTC, about 454 km over 347.624 E, 
   31.1103 N (Atlantic Ocean, about 420 km west of Marrakesh, Morocco)

 BACKGROUND:
  The 7-year mission will provide close-up, high-latitude observations of the 
  Sun from a highly elliptic orbit that ranges between 0.28 au at perihelion
  (~60 solar radii, inside Mercury's orbit) and 1.2 au at aphelion. 
 
  It will reach its operational orbit ~22 months after launch by using gravity 
  assist maneuvers (GAMs) at Earth and Venus. 

  From a Venus resonant orbit, subsequent GAMs at Venus will increase its 
  inclination with respect to the solar equator over time, reaching up to 
  24 deg. (with an orbit period of 168 days) at the end of the nominal 
  mission (7 years after launch) and up to 33 deg. in a potential extended 
  mission phase.

  During closest approach (every ~5 months), Solar Orbiter will be positioned 
  for several days over roughly the same region of the solar atmosphere, as the
  Sun rotates on its axis beneath the spacecraft. The spacecraft will thus
  effectively "hover" over the rotating surface, and therefore able to watch 
  developing magnetic activity that can lead to flares and eruptions.

  The view of the solar poles from higher latitudes will help understand how 
  dynamo processes generate the Sun's magnetic field. Observations will be
  coordinated as appropriate between Solar Orbiter and the Parker Solar Probe.

 Flybys:
  2020-Dec-26: Venus
  2021-Aug-08: Venus
  2021-Nov-27: Earth (end of cruise phase)
                November 27 @ 4:30:31 UTC, ~454 km above the surface over
                347.624 E, 31.1103 N (Atlantic Ocean, ~420 km west of 
                Marrakesh, Morocco)
  2022-Sep-04: Venus (12498.5 km from Venus center @ 01:26:27 UTC)
  2025-Feb-18: Venus
  2026-Dec-24: Venus
  2028-Mar-17: Venus
  2029-Jun-10: Venus
  2030-Sep-02: Venus

 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
  * Sun-pointed three-axis stabilised platform 
  * Heat shield 
  * Two adjustable solar arrays (adopted from BepiColombo mission)
  Dimensions    : 2.5 x 3.0 x 2.5 meters (launch configuration)
  Communications: 
   Dual X-band at 150 kbps (at 1 au)
   Tracking from Malargue 35-m antenna (Argentina), 4-8 hours/day
    Backup: New Norcia (Australia) and Cebreros (Spain)
  Power         :  180 Watts
  Launch mass   : 1800 kg
  Payload mass  :  209 kg

 SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS:
  In-situ instruments (operate throughout orbit):
    EPD   : Energetic Particle Detector
    MAG   : Magnetometer
    RPW   : Radio and Plasma Waves
    SWA   : Solar Wind Plasma Analyser
  Remote-sensing instruments (30 days per orbit, near close-approach)
    EUI   : Extreme Ultraviolet Imager
    METIS : Coronagraph
    PHI   : Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager
    SoloHI: Heliospheric Imager (US-NRL)
    SPICE : Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment
    STIX  : X-ray Spectrometer/Telescope

 TRAJECTORY: Post-launch trajectory from ESA: 
  Trajectory data begins after upper-stage separation in LEO.
  Tracking data fit up to 2026-August-30, prediction thereafter.

 Name                                                   Start (TDB) Stop (TDB)
 ------------------------------------------------------ ----------- -----------
 solo_ANC_soc-orbit-stp_20200210-20301120_427_V1_00573  2020-Feb-10 2030-Nov-20
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