Solar Orbiter: a mission overview and status update

Approved in October 2000 by ESA's Science Programme Committee as a flexi-mission and re-confirmed in May 2002 as an element in the new ESA science programme Cosmic Vision, the Solar Orbiter will study the Sun and unexplored regions of the inner heliosphere from a unique orbit that brings the probe to within 45 solar radii of our star, and to solar latitudes as high as 38 degrees. The scientific payload to be carried by the Solar Orbiter will include both remote-sensing instruments and an in situ package. Launch is currently scheduled for 2012. Given the technical challenges associated with this mission, it is essential that key technologies requiring significant development be identified as early as possible. ESA has therefore set up Payload Working Groups whose task it is to address potential problem areas arising as a result of the extreme thermal and radiation environment and to identify necessary technological developments.