Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Space

Solar Orbiter launched

The Sun explorer spacecraft Solar Orbiter - built by Airbus in Stevenage - was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 23.03 local time.

The European Space Agency (ESA) mission will study the Sun to improve our understanding of how it creates the heliosphere, the vast bubble surrounding the solar system. The satellite has 10 in-situ and remote sensing instruments, used to take photographs and spectra, and collect data on solar particles, the solar wind, solar flares and the Sun’s magnetic field.

Advertisement
Farsound RT 2


Images copyright Airbus

 
Ian Walters, Airbus’ programme manager for Solar Orbiter said: “Today’s launch is a fantastic success for all the teams across Europe and America who have made this mission happen. We now look forward to the exciting discoveries that Solar Orbiter will make as it looks directly at the Sun.”
 
Solar Orbiter will use gravity assist manoeuvres around Venus, to achieve its elliptical operational orbit, approaching the Sun as close as 42 million km.


 
With the UK built satellite orbiting at such close distances it will have to endure temperatures exceeding 500°C, hot enough to melt lead. Its unique heat shield covered in a special heat-emitting coating called SolarBlack will protect the spacecraft behind the shield from the extreme heat of the Sun at this close distance.
 
ESA selected Airbus in Stevenage to design and build the satellite which began in 2012, and the mission is expected to have a lifetime of up to 10 years.

Advertisement
Marshall RT

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
UK Space Agency announces new headquarters and regional offices

Space

UK Space Agency announces new headquarters and regional offices

27 March 2024

The UK Space Agency is opening new headquarters at the Harwell Science Campus’ Space Cluster in Oxfordshire, and offices in Scotland, Wales and the Midlands.

Airbus continues climate change monitoring with NASA

Space

Airbus continues climate change monitoring with NASA

22 March 2024

Airbus has been awarded a contract to design and build the GRACE-C twin spacecraft by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory JPL (Pasadena, California).

UK tech firms selected for Government support in Japan

Aerospace Space

UK tech firms selected for Government support in Japan

21 March 2024

Four innovative UK tech companies have been selected to receive Government support from the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme to accelerate their plans for expansion in Japan.

Viasat expanding in-flight connectivity of Korean Air fleet

Aerospace Space

Viasat expanding in-flight connectivity of Korean Air fleet

20 March 2024

Viasat has been selected to power in-flight connectivity onboard 40 additional aircraft by Korean Air, South Korea’s flag carrier.

Advertisement
Farsound RT 2
Serco welcomes Sarah AlHabbas as first Space Graduate

Space

Serco welcomes Sarah AlHabbas as first Space Graduate

20 March 2024

Serco has welcomed its first Space Graduate, Sarah AlHabbas, helping to advance Saudi talent in the space sector.

Viasat

Aerospace Space

Viasat's IFC selected by Royal Jordanian Airlines

18 March 2024

Royal Jordanian Airlines and Viasat have announced that the airline will officially make high-speed Wi-Fi a priority to enhance its future passenger experience by selecting Viasat's in-flight connectivity (IFC) solution across multiple fleets.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT