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Discover the hidden mysteries of the Sun with the Solar Orbiter and Inner Heliospheric Sentinels. These spacecraft, stationed inside the orbits of Venus and Mercury, will sample solar energetic particles and observe the Sun's corona. Combined with the Near-Earth and Farside Sentinels, they will provide a complete picture of our star.
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Solar Sentinels (NASA) • Inner Heliospheric Sentinels--four identical probes stationed inside the orbits of Venus and Mercury. These spacecraft would sample freshly accelerated solar energetic particles close to the Sun. The four Inner Heliospheric Sentinels will face unique thermal and power challenges as they orbit the Sun, some well inside Mercury's orbit. • Near-Earth Sentinel—a single probe orbiting Earth. This Sentinel would carry a coronagraph, a special telescope for observing the Sun's faint corona where CMEs get their start. • Farside Sentinel—a single probe to watch the farside of the sun. Together with other spacecraft, this sentinel would provide a complete picture of the Sun--not just the half we see from Earth.
Solar Orbiter / Solar Sentinels • Some Advantages: • Reduce the cost • Increase the probability of both missions to actually happen. • Increase scientific opportunities • Remote sensing capability of SoLO will enhance IHS science • Combined ESA/NASA ground stations improve SoLO data rate and cadence. • Some Disadvantages: • Reduce the proximity to the Sun for SoLO, and max inclination • Suggestion of reduce from 4 to 3 IHS • Redundancy of some instruments (?) • Weight load.
