Space probe

Solar Orbiter

ESA · NASA · launched 2020

Climbing out of the ecliptic to image the Sun’s poles.

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Right now · as of

Interplanetary cruise

108 million km from Earth; a signal takes 5 min 60 s

130 million km from the Sun, moving at 23.5 km/s relative to the Sun

Solar OrbiterOpen in 3D

The flight

  1. February 10, 2020

    Launched on Atlas V 411 from Cape Canaveral SLC-41

  2. December 27, 2020

    Flies past Venus, 13,488 km away

  3. August 9, 2021

    Flies past Venus, 14,049 km away

  4. November 27, 2021

    Flies past Earth, 6,833 km away

  5. September 4, 2022

    Flies past Venus, 12,535 km away

  6. February 18, 2025

    Flies past Venus, 6,437 km away

  7. December 24, 2026 · expected

    Flies past Venus, 7,050 km away

  8. March 18, 2028 · expected

    Flies past Venus, 6,426 km away

  9. June 10, 2029 · expected

    Flies past Venus, 6,417 km away

  10. September 3, 2030 · expected

    Flies past Venus, 8,684 km away

From the trajectory NASA JPL Horizons publishes for it.

Facts

What it is
Space probe
Agency
ESA · NASA
Launched
February 10, 2020
Rocket
Atlas V 411
Launch site
Cape Canaveral SLC-41
International designator
2020-010A

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