Active missions: DSCOVR - Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) - PICARD - Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR/SMO) - Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) - Hinode (Sunrise) - Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) - Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) - Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) - Global Geospace Geoscience (GGS) WIND
Future missions: Aditya-1 - Solar Probe Plus - Solar Orbiter - Solar Sentinels
DSCOVRLaunch: February 11, 2015
The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) maintains real-time solar wind monitoring capabilities critical to the accuracy and lead time of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s space weather alerts and forecasts.
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)Launch: November 2, 2011
Orbit: Geosynchronous, 102 degrees WSDO records the Sun's dynamic solar activity to understand how it affects life on Earth.
PICARDLaunch: June 15, 2010
Orbit: LEO, polar, sun-synchronous 98 degrees, 700 km altitudePICARD takes simultaneous measurements of the Sun's irradiance, solar flares, magnetic fields and diameter/shape, studying the link between solar cycles and temperature changes on earth. It is a sponsored by CNES, the French space agency.
Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR/SMO)Launch: 7 February 2008
Orbit: LEO 51.6 degrees, 400 kilometersSOLAR is mounted on the Columbus module of the International Space Station. It measures the irradiance received from the sun, contributing to solar and stellar physics research, as well as improving atmospheric modeling, atmospheric chemistry and climatology models.
Links: NASA
Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)Launch: October 26, 2006
Orbit: Sun-centric, approximately 1 AUNASA’s twin STEREO spacecraft provide stereoscopic views of the sun to better understand coronal mass ejections.
Hinode (Sunrise)Launch: September 22, 2006
Orbit: LEO, polar, sun-synchronous 98 degrees, 700 km altitude.Hinode is the Japanese word for sunrise. It is a joint mission between JAXA, NASA and the ESA to study the sun's magnetic cycles.
Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI)Launch: February 5, 2002
Orbit: LEO, 38 degrees, 600 km altitudeRHESSI explores the particle physics behind solar flares. It is a small explorer mission (SMEX) in the original American Explorer line of spacecraft.
Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)Launch: August 5, 1997
Orbit: Near L1 Lagrange pointACE observes energetic solar, interplanetary, interstellar, and galactic particles. Near real-time data from the spacecraft are used by the Space Prediction Weather Center to provide one-hour warnings of approaching geomagnetic storms.
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)Launch: December 2, 1995
Orbit: L1 Lagrange pointSOHO studies the sun from core to outer corona, and has inadvertently discovered over 2,000 comets due to the coronagraph its uses to block out the sun’s direct glare.
Global Geospace Geoscience (GGS) WINDLaunch: November 1, 1994
Orbit: Near L1 Lagrange pointGGS WIND measures solar wind and energetic particles emanating from the Sun. It is also creating baseline data for the upcoming Solar Probe+ and Solar Orbiter missions, and supplements data from the STEREO missions.
Aditya-1
Launch: Planned for 2021
Aditya, translated as "Sun," will be launched by the Indian Space Agency (ISRO) to study the Sun's coronal mass ejections and magnetic field structures.
Solar Orbiter
Launch: Planned for 2019
Orbit: Sun-centric 25 degrees solar inclination, 0.28 AUSolar Orbiter is an ESA mission to study how the Sun creates and control its heliosphere. The mission will fly as close as 0.28 AU to capture its measurements.
Solar Probe Plus
Launch: Planned for 2018
Orbit: Sun-centric 3.4 degrees solar inclination, 8.5 solar radii (final orbit)Solar Probe Plus will approach the Sun from a distance of 8.5 solar radii to take direct measurements of the particles and energy emanating from the Sun's corona.
Solar Sentinels
The future of this mission is unclear. A group of six spacecraft would study the sun during solar maximum, researching energetic particles, coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks in the inner heliosphere. Data will be used to forecast space weather for future human spaceflight missions.
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