International Space Station
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The International Space Station taken from Space Shuttle Discovery as the Sun rises from behind Earth.
The STS-119 and Expedition 18 crew took this picture after leaving the Space Station in March 2009. Credits: NASA/ESA
This weekend the International Space Station will turn itself to
position ESA’s SOLAR instrument for a better view of the Sun. It will be
the first time the Station has changed attitude for scientific reasons
alone.
SOLAR has been monitoring our Sun’s output since it was installed on ESA’s Columbus laboratory module in February 2008. The package will celebrate its fifth anniversary next year.
SOLAR has been monitoring our Sun’s output since it was installed on ESA’s Columbus laboratory module in February 2008. The package will celebrate its fifth anniversary next year.
SOLAR
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SOLAR consists of three complementary instruments: SOVIM (SOlar Variable
and Irradiance Monitor) covers the near-ultraviolet, visible and
thermal-infrared regions of the spectrum; SOL-ACES (SOLar
Auto-Calibrating Extreme UV/UV Spectrophotometers) measures the extreme
ultraviolet; and SOLSPEC (SOLar SPECtral Irradiance measurements) covers
the 180–3000 nm wavelength range.
Credits: ESA
“That is quite an achievement,” says Nadia This, operations engineer at
the Belgian User Support and Operations Centre that controls SOLAR.
“The instrument was designed to work for only 18 months.”
SOLAR needs to be in direct view of the Sun to take measurements but
the Space Station’s normal orbit obscures the view for two weeks every
month.
“We want to record a complete rotation of the Sun and that takes around 25 days,” explains Nadia.
Belgian support centre
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The Belgian User Support and Operations Centre is part of the ground segment for the International Space Station.
It is open 24 hours a day to make sure in-orbit payloads operate as
planned, provide astronaut training and process scientific data received
from the experiments.
It is located in Uccle, Belgium on the premises of the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy.
Credits: BUSOC
The solution is to rotate the whole Station but moving a 450 tonne
orbital outpost the size of a typical block of flats is not a simple
undertaking.
Aside from calculating the correct orbit to keep SOLAR in view of the Sun, other factors need to be taken into account such as ensuring the solar panels that power the Station are not left in the dark.
Communication antennas need to be reoriented to stay in contact with Earth and other scientific experiments must be adjusted.
High-level discussions with all five Space Station partners were needed before the go-ahead was given.
Aside from calculating the correct orbit to keep SOLAR in view of the Sun, other factors need to be taken into account such as ensuring the solar panels that power the Station are not left in the dark.
Communication antennas need to be reoriented to stay in contact with Earth and other scientific experiments must be adjusted.
High-level discussions with all five Space Station partners were needed before the go-ahead was given.
SOLAR on Station
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SOLAR installed on ESA’s Columbus laboratory on the International Space
Station. SOLAR consists of three complementary instruments: SOVIM (SOlar
Variable and Irradiance Monitor) covers the near-ultraviolet, visible
and thermal-infrared regions of the spectrum; SOL-ACES (SOLar
Auto-Calibrating Extreme UV/UV Spectrophotometers) measures the extreme
ultraviolet; and SOLSPEC (SOLar SPECtral Irradiance measurements) covers
the 180–3000 nm wavelength range.
Credits: ESA/NASA
SOLAR started recording a full rotation of the Sun on 19 November. On
1 December the Station will spend two hours turning about 7º so that
observations can continue. It will hold this angle for ten days before
returning to its original attitude. As usual, the Belgian centre will be
following its progress 24 hours a day.
SOLAR’s observations are improving our understanding of the Sun and
allowing scientists to create accurate computer models and predict its
behaviour. The more accurate data we acquire, the more we will
understand our nearest star’s influence on Earth.
Recently, the 11-year solar cycle has shown irregularities and the next
maximum is expected in 2013, so SOLAR’s spectral readings are of
particular interest to scientists.
ESA
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
ayabaca@gmail.com
ayabaca@hotmail.com
ayabaca@yahoo.com
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