The spacecraft encounters a jet of material ejected from the Sun

The Solar Orbiter, a solar research spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has just faced a powerful eruption of matter.

A coronal eruption (CME) - an explosion of charged particles from the upper atmosphere or corona of the Sun - occurred on August 30 and was directed towards Venus. Soon after, the stream reached the Solar Orbiter, a spacecraft preparing for a close pass of Venus. Because the ship was designed to measure this type of violent eruption, the ship was able to withstand the attack without damage.

The Solar Orbiter carries 10 scientific instruments to observe the Sun's surface and collect data on the CME, wind and solar magnetic field. The ESA said that some instruments were turned off during the approach to Venus due to the risk of sunlight bouncing back from the atmosphere (Venus's atmosphere is highly reflective).

During the encounter with the CME, the Solar Orbiter obtained some valuable information and detected high-energy particles from the Sun rising. During the solar flares, particles such as protons, electrons and even ionized helium atoms are ejected from the Sun and accelerate rapidly. They pose a radiation risk to astronauts and can damage spacecraft. Therefore, understanding their movements and activities in space helps protect people and equipment on Earth and in space.

After the encounter with CME, Solar Orbiter successfully approached Venus at 8:26 am on September 4 (Hanoi time). The approach is mainly intended to help the spacecraft change its orbit and get closer to the Sun. However, during its close pass of Venus, the spacecraft also made additional observations of the planet's mysterious magnetic field.

The Solar Orbiter will launch into space in 2020. The main mission of the spacecraft, expected to last about a decade, is to photograph the Sun from its closest distance ever and study the properties of the Sun's magnetic field. God.

Thu Thao (According to Space )

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