Chinese scientists have announced a preliminary launch date for an advanced space solar
The ASO-S satellite is designed for four years of service.It will make observations of the solar magnetic field, solar flares and coronal mass ejections to support catastrophic space weather forecasting. The device weighing 888 kg will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 720 km from the Earth.
The satellite is equipped with the Lyman Alpha solar telescope.and a solar hard X-ray thermal imager. In addition, the All-Solar vector magnetic imager will also be installed on board the space probe.
Researchers note that the nature of the Sunchanges over an 11-year cycle. Our star is now entering its 25th solar cycle and is estimated to peak its radiation around 2025. The developers hope that the ASO-S solar probe will receive detailed recordings of the Sun during peak activity.
Cover image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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