SDO

SDO [NASA]

The SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) solar observing satellite will be a follow up to SOHO. SDO has four main goals:

Research on the Solar Cycle.
Identify the role of the magnetic field in delivering energy to the solar atmosphere and its many layers.
Study how the outer regions of the Sun's atmosphere evolve over time - ranging from seconds to centuries - and space.
Monitor the radiation (ex: UV, EUV, etc.) levels of solar output.

SDO will contain a suite of instruments which will provide the observations that will lead to a more complete understanding of the solar dynamics that drive variability in the Earth's environment. Following instruments are mounted on the spacecraft:

HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager):
The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager will extend the capabilities of the SOHO/MDI instrument with continuous full-disk coverage at considerably higher spatial and temporal resolution line-of-sight magnetograms with the optional channel for full Stokes polarization measurements and hence vector magnetogram determination.
AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly):
The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly will image the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes to surface and interior changes.
EVE (Extreme Ultraviolet Variablity Experiment):
The Extreme Ultraviolet Variablity Experiment will measure the solar Extreme-Ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance with unprecedented spectral resolution, temporal cadence, and precision.

The large data outtput (> 1 TByte/day) dictated the use of a geostationary orbit for continuous data downlink via a Ka-band transponder.

Nation:	USA
Type / Application:	Solar Observatory
Operator:	NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Contractors:	NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Equipment:	HMI, AIA, EVE
Configuration:
Propulsion:	?
Lifetime:
Mass:	3200 kg
Orbit:	inclined GEO

Satellite	Date	LS		Launcher	Remarks:
SDO	11.02.2010	CC SLC-41		Atlas-5(401)

Further LWS (Living with a Star) missions: