The Solar Orbiter spacecraft was launched on 10 February 2020 with a mission to explore the inner solar system. Carrying ten scientific instruments including one built in the Physics Department at Imperial, Solar Orbiter is revealing how the Sun’s dynamic atmosphere is heated, how it creates the fast solar wind that flows past the Earth and drives space weather, and how particles are accelerated to the highest energies by shock waves. I will talk about the science highlights from the mission so far, discuss the engineering challenges in building and operating an instrument in space, and talk about Solar Orbiter’s future as it heads out of the ecliptic plane following a Venus flyby on 18 February.
This event will be followed by a light reception on Level 8 Blackett at 4.30pm. Staff and students welcome.