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Science
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SOLAR-B |
| Client |
JAXA |
 |
| Launch date |
September 23, 2006 |
| Launch vehicle |
M-V |
| Launch site |
Kagoshima Space Center |
| Orbit |
Altitude: 600 km,
Sun-synchronous polar orbit |
| Mass |
900 kg |
| Electrical power |
1,000 W |
| Design life |
Minimum 2 years |
| Responsibilities |
Prime contractor |
| Outline |
The mission of SOLAR-B is the elucidation of such issues as: the composition of the outer surface of the sun (corona and chromosphere); the magnetic microstructure of the surface of the sun's photosphere, and dynamics and coupling with the sun's corona; and elementary processes of magnetic reconnection. In order to accomplish this mission, SOLAR-B is a solar-orbit observation platform consisting of three observation systems: a visible light/magnetic field telescope, an X-ray telescope, and an extreme ultra violet (EUV) spectrum imaging system. The satellite is equipped for high-resolution, comprehensive observation of magnetism, temperature, and plasma flow in the range of the 6,000 oC surface of the photosphere, to the several tens of thousands of degrees of the corona. |
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