SDO

Solar Dynamics Observatory

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General

Designation	36395 / 10005A
Launch date	11 Feb 2010
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Scientific: Sun study
Geostationary orbit	102°W, highly inclined 28°
Launch vehicle	Atlas 5 #20

First mission in NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) program. Initially planned for launch in early 2009.

SDO will help understand how the Sun's magnetic field is generated and structured and how this magnetic energy is converted into solar wind and energetic particles.

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External resources

http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	Lockheed Martin
Platform
Mass at launch	3100 kg
Dry mass	1650 kg
Dimension	2.2 x 2.2 x 4.5 m
Solar array
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	1450 W
Design lifetime

Downlink in Ka-band at 130 Mbps (continuous)

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Payload

HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager)
Will extend the capabilities of the SOHO/MDI instrument with continuous full-disk coverage at higher spatial resolution. Provided by Stanford University. Will study the origin of solar variability and attempt to characterise and understand the Sun's interior and magnetic activity.


AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly)
Will image the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes in the surface to interior changes. Data will include images of the Sun in 10 wavelengths every 10 seconds. Provided by Lockheed Martin Solar Astrophysics Laboratory. Composed of 4 telescopes.

EVE (Extreme Ultraviolet Variablity Experiment)
Will measure the solar extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance with unprecedented spectral resolution, temporal cadence, and precision. Measures the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV, ranges in wavelength from 0.1 to 105 nm) spectral irradiance to understand variations on the timescales which influence Earth's climate and near-Earth space. Provided by University of Colorado.

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