NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory launches successfully

Scientists are celebrating as NASA successfully launched its high resolution Sun probe into space today, Thursday 11 February.

Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft
Credit: NASA

The Solar Dynamics Observatory will give space scientists the most detailed views ever of the sun to help improve their understanding of the Sun’s disruptive influence on space weather and services such as telecommunications on Earth. The UK, including scientists and engineers from the Science and Technology Facility Council’s (STFC’s) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL), has provided essential expertise and technology to the mission.

RAL Scientists involved in the five year mission watched as SDO was launched from Florida's Cape Canaveral base at 15:23 (GMT).

"When you witness a launch, after years of preparation, and knowing that there is a piece of hardware from your lab at the top of that rocket, it can be extremely emotional. You are excited about the opening of a new scientific door, but really anxious that everything will go to plan," said STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory scientist, Professor Richard Harrison.

"The UK has played an important part in the scientific investment and planning for this mission, and we have supplied the CCD-based camera systems for two of the major instruments aboard SDO. With the launch under our belts we look forward now to the first images from SDO - showing the complex solar atmosphere in unprecedented detail."

Please view NASA's webpages (link opens in a new window) for more information.

Notes for editors

Images

High resolution images available from RAL press office

Contacts

• Bekky Stredwick
  Press Office
  STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
  Tel: +44 (0)1235 445777
  Mobile: 07825861436
  
  
• Lucy Stone
  Press Office
  STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
  Tel Number: 01235 445627
  Mobile: 07920870125
  
  

UK contribution to SDO

SDO is a NASA mission. In the UK institutions involved include: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; e2v Ltd; UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory; University of Sheffield.

STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory has provided the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory with the CCD Camera electronics systems for two of the three scientific instruments on SDO: Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). In addition RAL, MSSL and Sheffield have scientific interest as SDO co-investigator groups.

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is a United States government agency that is responsible for science and technology related to air and space.

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