ESA Articles & Press Releases

2024

• ESA's Solar Orbiter traces solar wind to its source (28 May 2024)
• Total solar eclipse on 8 April 2024 (10 April 2024)
• Solar Orbiter to watch for eruptions during total eclipse (4 April 2024)
• Solar Orbiter prepared for worst-case scenario (2 April 2024)
• ESA and NASA team up to study solar wind

2023

• Solar Orbiter closes in on the solution to a 65 year old solar mystery (14 September 2023)
• Camera hack lets Solar Orbiter peer deeper into Sun's atmosphere (6 September 2023)
• Solar Orbiter discovers tiny jets that could power the solar wind (24 August 2023)
• Mercury's black disc helps sharpen Solar Orbiter's view (20 February 2023)

2022

• Solar Orbiter's unprecedented view of the quiet corona (27 October 2022)
• Solar Orbiter solves magnetic switchback mystery (12 September 2022)
• Coronal mass ejection hits Solar Orbiter before Venus flyby (5 September 2022)
• The Sun as you've never seen it before! (18 May 2022)
• Zooming into the Sun with Solar Orbiter (24 March 2022)
• Solar Orbiter crosses the Earth-Sun line as it heads for the Sun (7 March 2022)
• Giant solar eruption seen by Solar Orbiter (18 February 2022)

2021

• Solar Orbiter returns to Earth before starting its main science mission (23 November 2021)
• 'Campfires' offer clue to solar heating mystery (27 April 2021)

2020

• Solar Orbiter: turning pictures into physics (10 December 2020)
• Solar Orbiter releases first data to the public (30 September 2020)
• The closest camera to the Sun (7 September 2020)
• Secrets for Solar Orbiter to solve (4 September 2020)
• Why we need Solar Orbiter (2 September 2020)
• Solar Orbiter's first images reveal 'campfires' on the Sun (16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter ready for science despite COVID-19 setbacks (29 June 2020)
• Solar Orbiter makes its first close pass of the Sun (15 June 2020)
• Solar Orbiter to pass through the tails of comet ATLAS (29 May 2020)
• First Solar Orbiter instrument sends measurements (17 February 2020)
• Solar Orbiter braves challenging early days (14 February 2020)
• Liftoff for Solar Orbiter, ESA's mission to face the Sun up close (10 February 2020)
• Here comes the Sun! (7 February 2020)
• Flying solo (1 February 2020)
• Warming up for the Sun (30 January 2020)
• Paint it black: Stone Age sun screen for Solar Orbiter (28 January 2020)
• Shielding Solar Orbiter from the Sun (28 January 2020)

Before 2020

• Solar Orbiter launch campaign begins (21 November 2019)
• Solar Orbiter ready to depart Europe (18 October 2019)
• Solar Orbiter Journal #5: Electric and magnetic fields under control (23 September 2019)
• Solar Orbiter Journal #4: Simulating zero gravity (2 August 2019) 
• Solar Orbiter Journal #3: Good vibes for Solar Orbiter (1 April 2019)
• Solar Orbiter Journal #2: Solar Orbiter receives its sunblock (14 December 2018)
• Solar Orbiter Journal #1: Antenna's European Journey to join Solar Orbiter (20 September 2018)
• Solar Orbiter high-gain antenna boom steering test (9 November 2017)
• Solar Orbiter launch moved to 2018 (13 April 2015)
• ESA contracts Astrium UK to build Solar Orbiter (26 April 2012)
• Dark and bright: ESA chooses next two science missions (4 October 2011)

NASA Articles & Press Releases

• Record prominence imaged by Solar Orbiter (2 March 2022)
• ESA/NASA's Solar Orbiter returns first data, snaps closest pictures of the Sun (16 July 2020)
• NASA, ESA to release first images from Solar Orbiter mission (13 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter launch takes solar science to new heights (10 February 2020)
• NASA Invites Media to Launch of Solar Orbiter Spacecraft (17 October 2019)
• NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Solar Orbiter Mission (18 March 2014)
• NASA Developing Instruments For New Solar Orbiter Mission (6 October 2011)

Media Coverage (english)

• The Sun crackles in new images from spacecraft preparing for a close flyby (Space.com, 11 Oct 2022)
• Solar Orbiter reveals best glimpse yet of Venus' magnetic field (Space.com. 15 September 2022)
• Solar Orbiter to look at Venus' magnetic field as it swings by the planet (Space.com, 3 September 2022)
• Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter are observing our Sun like never before (BBC Sky at Night magazine, 26 July 2022)
• The Solar Orbiter spacecraft spotted a 'hedehog' on the sun (ScienceNews, 1 June 2022)
• Solar Orbiter's pictures of the sun are every bit as dramatic as you were hoping (Phys.org, 26 May 2022)
• Solar Orbiter reveals a never-before-seen look at our sun (CNN, 18 May 2022)
• Solar Orbiter spacecraft takes its closest look at the sun (Space.com, 26 March 2022)
• Solar Orbiter data may reveal 'whole extra set of wonders', says expert (UK Press Association, 30 August 2020)
• How three new tools will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun (Smithsonian Magazine, 28 August 2020)
• What will Solar Orbiter's mission accomplish? (Astronomy, 18 August 2020)
• Closest picture ever taken of Sun show tiny campfire flares (New York Times, 17 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter mission shares closest images of the Sun, reveals 'campfires' near its surface (CNN, 17 July 2020)
• Closest ever images of sun reveal it is covered in miniature flares (The Guardian, 16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter: Closest ever pictures taken of the Sun (BBC, 16 July 2020)
• Closer than ever: Solar Orbiter's first views of the Sun (The Wall Street journal, 16 July 2020)
• A mission to the Sun left just in time (The Atlantic, 16 July 2020)
• This photo of the Sun is the closest ever taken (Scientific American, 16 July 2020)
• The closest images of the Sun ever taken reveal 'campfire' flares (ScienceNews, 16 July 2020)
• First images from Solar Orbiter mission bring Sun into sharper focus (Spaceflight Now, 16 July 2020)
• We are about to get the closest images of the Sun ever captured (Newsweek, 17 June 2020)
• Solar Orbiter makes its first close pass of the sun (CNN, 15 June 2020)
• ESA spacecraft might accidentally fly through the tail of a comet (New Scientist, 13 May 2020)
• Spacewatch: Solar Orbiter sends first data back to Earth (The Guardian, 20 February 2020)
• First Solar Orbiter instrument sends measurements (Phys.org, 18 February 2020)
• A new spacecraft will examine the Sun close up. Solar physics is a hot topic. (The Economist, 13 February 2020)
• What's next for Solar Orbiter after its historical launch to the Sun (Space.com, 11 February 2020)
• We've never seen the Sun's top or bottom. Solar Orbiter will change that. (New York Times, 10 February 2020)
• Atlas 5 blasts off with Solar Orbiter (SpaceFlight Now, 10 February 2020)
• Solar Orbiter completes preparation for launch (BBC, 1 February 2020)
• Solar Orbiter will give us our best views of the sun's top and bottom (New Scientist, 28 January 2020)
• ESA's Solar Orbiter heat shield relies on stone age technology (Forbes, 28 January 2020)
• Solar Orbiter arrives at Kennedy Space Center for launch preps (Spaceflight Now, 2 November 2019)
• Heating Up: NASA's Parker Probe, Solar Orbiter give solar science its day in the sun (USA Today Special Edition, October 2019)
• ESA’s Solar Orbiter ready to study the Sun, heading for Florida (NASA Spaceflight, 21 October 2019)
• SolO Probe ready to acquire sharpest ever pictures (BBC News interview with NASA Deputy Project Scientist H. Gilbert, 18 October 2019)
• European SolO probe ready to take on audacious mission (BBC, 18 October 2019)
• Solar orbiter cleared to study the sun after extensive spacecraft testing (Phys.org, 23 September 2019)
• Final tests for mission to study the sun (Washington Post, 24 September 2018)
• European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter Heads Closer to Sun than Ever Before, Voice of America (24 September 2018)
• Staring at the sun: Solar Orbiter telescopes will get closest view yet (The Guardian, 19 September 2018)
• Solar Orbiter: Spacecraft to leave UK bound for the Sun (BBC News, 18 September 2018)
• Seeking the Sun's Secrets (BBC News interview with MAG PI T. Horbury, 18 September 2018)
• Devastating solar storm is a matter of ‘when not if’ warns Met Office as Solar Orbiter begins testing (The Telegraph, 17 September 2018)
• Solar Orbiter leaves Stevenage for tests ahead of magnetic fields mission (The Comet, 17 September 2018)
• Solar Orbiter to Leave Factory for Testing (SpaceRef, 17 September 2018)
• NASA's Parker Solar Probe: Set the controls for the heart of the Sun (Engineering & Technology, 21 June 2018)
• ESA's Solar Orbiter mission passes crucial milestone (The Guardian, 14 March 2015)
• Getting ready for the mission to Hell (BBC News, 26 March 2015)
• Solar Orbiter: here comes the Sun (UCL Science Blog, 25 March 2015)
• Race to reveal Sun's secrets heats up with £560m spacecraft (The Times, 14 March 2015)
• Astrium Ltd. Picked To Build Europe's Solar Orbiter (Space News, 26 April 20112)
• UK company to build Sun orbiter (Space Daily, 27 April 2012)
• Hot Stuff: UK Spacecraft To Fly Up To The Sun (Sky News, 27 April 2012)
• Astrium wins €300 million Solar Orbiter contract from ESA (PHYS.ORG, 27 April 2012)
• ESA's Solar Orbiter Moves Ahead With De-scoped NASA Participation (Aviation Week, 27 April 2012)
• UK industry to build Solar Orbiter satellite (BBC News, 26 April 2012)
• Astrium UK picked to build Solar Orbiter spacecraft (Spaceflight Now, 26 April 2012)
• Europe to lead daring Sun mission (BBC News, 4 October 2011)
• ESA Selects Solar Orbiter and Astronomy Telescope (Space News, 5 October 2011)
• European Space Agency to Probe Dark and Light (Science News, 5 October 2011)
• Europe Plots Mission to the Sun (NBC San Diego, 5 October 2011)
• ESA's next missions will study solar flares and dark energy (Wired UK, 5 October 2011)
• European Space Missions Target the Sun, Dark Energy (SPACE.com, 5 October 2011)
• Mission to the sun (Pravda, 6 October 2011)
• ESA announces new missions studying the Sun and dark energy (Deutsche Welle, 6 October 2011)
• Europe to launch bold Sun swoop mission (The Register, 5 October 2011)
• Spacecraft to study solar wind (Sky News, 5 October 2011)
• European Space Agency to launch orbiter bound for the Sun (but it will only get within 26 million miles) (Daily Mail, 5 October 2011)
• European Space Agency to Send Probe Closer to the Sun Than Ever Before (Geekosystem, 6 October 2011)
• With Two New Space Science Missions, ESA Will Fly to the Sun and Look For Dark Energy (Popular Science, 5 October 2011)
• Europeans Planning Closest Solar Probe Ever (PC Magazine, 5 October 2011)
• Space missions look from the dark into the light (PhysicsWorld.com, 6 October 2011)

Media Coverage (French)

• Des feux de camp sur le Soleil, et autres nouvelles du ciel (La Libération, 26 July 2020)
• Jamais le soleil n'avait été filmé d'aussi près (Euronews, 17 July 2020)
• L'Agence Spatiale Européenne diffuse les premières images du soleil vu de près (Les Echos, 16 July 2020)
• Le Soleil comme vous ne l'avez jamais vu (Le Point, 16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter révèle des secrets du Soleil (Ciel & Espace, 16 July 2020)
• Les splendides images du Soleil prises par la sonde Solar Orbiter (Sciences & Avenir, 16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter livre d'époustouflantes images rapprochées du Soleil (Science & Vie, 16 July 2020)
• La sonde Solar Orbiter pourrait croiser la comète Atlas qui s'est brisée en morceaux (Futura Sciences, 15 May 2020)
• 10 jours après son lancement, Solar Orbiter est en pleine forme (Sciences et Avenir, 20 February 2020)
• L'Europe et la NASA lancent Solar Orbiter en direction du Soleil (Le Figaro, 7 February 2020)
• La sonde Solar Orbiter, qui étudiera le Soleil de près, est sur le départ (Futura Sciences, 23 October 2019)
• Au plus près du Soleil (Science Connection, Journal of the Belgian Science Policy Office, December 2015 (also in Dutch))
• Le satellite Solar Orbiter va examiner le Soleil de près (Le Figaro, 26 April 2012)

Media Coverage (German)

• Solar Orbiter: Erste Daten der Sonnen-Sonde online verfügbar (Heise Online, 30 September 2020)
• Sonde: Sonnenbilder aus 77 Millionen Kilometer Entfernung (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 16 July 2020)
• Komet Atlas bekommt Besuch: Esa-Raumsonde Solar Orbiter durchfliegt Schweif (Frankfurter Rundschau, 31 May 2020)
• Mission zur Sonne - Die Raumsonde Solar Orbiter (BR interview with ESA Director of Science G. Hasinger, 18 October 2019)
• Raumsonde Solar Orbiter erforscht die Sonne (BR 24, 18 October 2019)
• "Wir versuchen die dunkle Energie der Sonne zu verstehen" (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 18 October 2019)
• Forschungssonde Solar Orbiter geht auf die Reise (Die Zeit, 18 October 2019)
• Europäische Sonnen-Sonde Solar Orbiter startet seine lange Reise (Stuttgarter Zeitung, 18 October 2019) 
• Brenzlige Reise zur Sonne (Deutsche Welle, 17 June 2017)
• "Solar Orbiter" kommt der Sonne so nahe wie keine Sonde zuvor (Der Standard, 6. Oktober 2011)
• ESA-Zuschlag für Raumsonde mit Kieler Beteiligung (Die Welt, 5. October 2011)

Media Coverage (italian)

• Solar Orbiter, il Sole mai visto così vicino: scoperti "falò" sulla sua superficie (La Reppublica, 16 July 2020)
• Il Sole mai visto così da vicino. Ecco le prime straordinarie immagini dal Solar Orbiter (Rai News, 16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter attraverserà la coda della cometa Atlas (La Repubblica, 29 May 2020)
• Metis messo in moto (28 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orber, tecnologia made in Puglia per la sonda dell'ESA che svelerà i segreti del sole (La Repubblica, 11 Feb 2020)
• Lenti italiane per vedere il Sole da vicino (il Giornale, 11 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orbiter, la sonda che studia tutti i segreti del sole (Corriere Della Sera, 10 Feb 2020)
• Il lungo viaggio del Solar Orbiter: tra due anni le prime immagini dei poli solari (Euronews video, 10 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orbiter, intervista a Paolo Ferri sulla sonda che viaggia verso il sole (Euronews, 10 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orbiter, il decollo della sonda europea direttal al sole (La Stampa, 10 Feb 2020)
• A caccia dei segreti del sole con Metis, il coronografo creato in Italia (Corriere Della Sera, 9 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orbiter, conto alla rovescia a Cape Canaveral (RAI News, 9 Feb 2020)
• Solar Orbiter pronta al lancio: indagherà i misteri del Sole (RAI News, 8 Feb 2020)
• Spazio, tutto pronto per Solar Orbiter. Italia a bordo della missione. (Askanews, 2 Dec 2019)

Media Coverage (Spanish)

• La misión Solar Orbier hace públicos sus primeros resultados (El Tiempo/EFE, 30 September 2020)
• Las preguntas que Solar Orbiter debe responder. Parte II (Tiempo.com, 24 September 2020)
• Las preguntas que Solar Orbiter debe responder. Parte I (Tiempo.com, 23 September 2020)
• Una nave europea toma la imagen más cercana del Sol (El Pais, 16 July 2020)
• La sonda Solar Orbiter descubre microllamaradas en la superficie del Sol (La Vanguardia, 16 July 2020)
• Solar Orbiter, la sonda camino del sol, cruzará la estela del cometa Atlas (La Vanguardia, 29 May 2020)
• Solar Orbiter: Granada pone rumbo al Sol (Granada Hoy, 3 Mar 2020)
• Solar Orbiter: la misión espacial que por primera vez tomará imágenes de los polos del Sol (BBC Mundo, 10 Feb 2020)
• La noche y la luna se alían en un lanzamiento espectacular para Solar Orbiter (EFE, 10 Feb 2020)
• El Sol como nunca se ha visto (La Vanguardia, 12 November 2019)
• La misión europea 'Solar Orbiter' observará por primera vez el polo norte y sur del Sol (Spanish TV RTVE, 28 April 2019)
• Historia de un lanzamiento - Solar Orbiter (Documentary, University of Alcalá, Spain, 15 October 2018)