Solar Orbiter Mission

The Solar Orbiter Mission has made significant strides in understanding the Sun and its influence on the solar system. A recent study has revealed fascinating insights into the origin of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs), which are high-energy particles emerging from the Sun.

About the Solar Orbiter Mission:

• Launched: 2020, as a joint project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA.

• Objective: The mission's primary goal is to study the Sun and its surrounding environment, the heliosphere, by taking detailed measurements from both close up and out of the ecliptic plane (the flat plane of Earth's orbit).

• Payload: The spacecraft carries:

  • Six remote-sensing instruments designed to observe the Sun and its outer atmosphere (the solar corona).

  • Four in-situ instruments to measure the solar wind, energetic particles, and electromagnetic fields. These instruments provide crucial data on the Sun's behavior and its effect on space weather.

What are Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE)?

• Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs) are high-energy particles that are emitted from the Sun.

• Sources of SEEs: They can be produced during:

  1. Solar Flares: Intense bursts of energy and radiation from the Sun’s surface.

  2. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Large eruptions of solar material and magnetic fields from the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

These energetic electrons are significant because they play a crucial role in shaping the cosmic environment, including their impact on space weather, which can affect satellites, communication systems, and even power grids on Earth.

Recent Findings from the Solar Orbiter Mission:

• Study Period: Between November 2020 and December 2022, the Solar Orbiter observed more than 300 bursts of SEEs.

• Key Discoveries:

  • Two Types of SEEs: The mission found that one type of SEE is linked to intense solar flares (explosive bursts of energy from small patches on the Sun’s surface), while another type is associated with Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which are massive eruptions from the Sun’s outer layer.

• Significance of Findings:

  • These findings will help scientists better understand the dynamics of space weather and the origin of energetic particles, enhancing predictions of solar activity and its effects on Earth. This research is crucial for improving the protection of space infrastructure and for deepening our knowledge of the Sun’s behavior.

Broader Impact:

By tracking and analyzing SEEs, the Solar Orbiter mission is enhancing our understanding of space weather phenomena that can influence various systems on Earth. These energetic particles, when interacting with Earth's magnetic field, can lead to geomagnetic storms, which affect satellites, GPS systems, and communication networks. Therefore, the mission's insights are pivotal for improving space weather forecasting and preparing for its potential impacts on technology and infrastructure.