LTP11 has been agreed to run from 2023-03-13T00:00:00.000 to 2023-06-26T00:00:00.000.
(see SWT-32 MoM)
Orbital context
Plots are in GSE (geocentric solar ecliptic) coordinates, so Earth is at [0,0], the Sun is at [1,0]. The plot is the projection of the orbit on the ecliptic plane.
Animated Version: Orbit_GSE_2023H1.mp4
Definition for the grey shading representing downlink rates:
- white = maximum downlink rate at which you can empty the SSMM in ~10 days
- light-grey = SSMM fill state decreases with everyone operating at EID-A rates
- mid-grey = SSMM fill state increases within RSW (10 instruments operating) and decreases outside RSW (IS-only breakeven rate < downlink rate < inside-RSW breakeven rate )
- dark-grey = SSMM fill state increases with just IS operating (downlink rate < IS-only breakeven rate)
RS window placement
As agreed during the SWT-32, the 3 RS windows in H1-2023 will be placed in LTP-11 at the following times and locations:
Window | EXT Start | Start | End | Heliocentric | Heliographic | SC-Sun-Earth | Conjunction | Safe Mode Comms Blackout | Largest Comms Roll | GAM Restrictions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSW7 (11 d) | 2023-03-18T00:00:00 (TBC) | 2023-03-22T00:00:00 | 2023-04-02T00:00:00 | 0.495 | 0.35 | -6.8 | -7.99 23-03-30 | -7.9 | 16 | 1.1 | 15.5 | inferior conjunction no constraints | / | / | / | |
| RSW8 (14 d) | 2023-04-02T00:00:00 | 2023-04-04T00:00:00 | 2023-04-18T00:00:00 | 0.33 | 0.29 23-04-10 | 0.34 | -7.4 | 0 23-04-13 | 4.0 | 25 | 110 | / | / | / | / | |
| RSW9 (5 d) | 2023-04-18T00:00:00 | 2023-04-20T00:00:00 | 2023-04-25T00:00:00 | 0.36 | 0.44 | 5.3 | 7.1 | 119 | 135 | / | / | / | / | |||
Note that a short comms roll of 2 degrees is needed towards the end of the LTP, from 13 May until 8 July 2023 (end during LTP13).
GAMs and conjunctions
- Inferior conjunction from 2023-03-27 to 2023-03-30 does not pose any constraints on science operations nor downlink.
- No GAM in this period.
Science and calibration planning
Note the text in red highlights adjustments still to be made in SOOP Kitchen plan during Long Term Planning
Overall objectives:
Cross-calibration with Earth-based assets (Sun-Earth line crossing).
High-resolution observations around the perihelion of 10 April 2023 (0.29 au).
Slow-wind connection science.
Coordinated science (and cross-calibration) campaigns:
The SOOP plan has been created in SOOP Kitchen (links below), and final output released (v1).
Before start of RS windows:
- 2023-03-15: Pointing to East limb for context to PSP quadrature and perihelion - L_FULL_LRES_MCAD_Probe-Quadrature
(Note we plan to omit the pointing to West limb on 18th to conserve pointing for Metis within 0.55au)
SOOP Coordinator: A. Zhukov
RSW7 Sun-Earth line crossing & max latitude S (2023-03-22 - 2023-04-02)
2023-03-22: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Full-Disk-Mosaic - 25 pointings to cover full solar disk
SOOP Coordinator: D. Berghmans- 2023-03-22: Metis-led L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Eruption-Watch - Disk Centre pointing (Note STEREO-A Opposition on 2023-03-24)
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-03-27: SPICE-led L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Composition-Mosaic (new) to find connection point with S/C. New style mosaic consisting of 12 pointings, ~4hrs dwell each- pVSTP
In parallel: instrument-specific cross-calibrations with Earth-bound observatories during Sun-Earth line crossing at 0.41 au (2023-03-28)
SOOP Coordinators: M. Janvier, A. To, D. Baker (2023-03-29: BepiColombo opposition)
- 2023-03-29: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst, for high-resolution science close to Sun-Earth line crossing. Active target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: H.Peter - 2023-03-29: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Polar-Observations, during max Southern solar latitude (8 degrees) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Zhukov - 2023-03-30: L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Slow-Wind-Connection, 3-days-long SOOP with daily tracking of the most likely connection point with the S/C - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Yardley, A. James
RSW8 Perihelion window (2023-04-04 - 2023-04-18)
- 2023-04-04: R_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Nanoflares at disk centre
SOOP Coordinator: S. Parenti - 2023-04-04: R_BOTH_HRES_MCAD_Bright-Points at disk centre
SOOP Coordinator: A. Fludra - 2023-04-05: R_SMALL_MRES_HCAD_Sunspot-Oscillations, new SOOP for sunspot oscillations, still represented by L_TEMPORARY - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Fludra - 2023-04-05: L_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Major-Flare for major flare watch test (for SPICE only) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: D. Berghmans (EUI), T. Kucera, A. Inglis (SPICE) - 2023-04-05: R_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Nanoflares for high-resolution science close to perihelion - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Parenti - 2023-04-07: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst for high-resolution science close to perihelion & PHI stereoscopy with Earth bound observatories (~45 degree angle) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Castellanos Duran, H. Peter - 2023-04-07: L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Coronal-Dynamics at disk centre, led by Metis
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-04-09: L_BOTH_HRES_LCAD_CH-Boundary-Expansion at disk centre, led by Metis
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-04-10: R_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Nanoflares for 6 hours of PHI observations of a quiet target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: L. Bellot-Rubio
Perihelion at 0.29 au - 2023-04-10: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst for high-resolution science and PHI stereoscopy with Earth bound observatories (~67 degree angle) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: H. Peter - 2023-04-11: R_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Nanoflares placeholder for high resolution science close to perihelion, active target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Parenti - 2023-04-12: R_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Density-Fluctuations led by Metis and SoloHI, at disk centre. Note STEREO-A Quadrature East at 14:54, Earth Quadrature East at 07:48
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro (METIS), A. Vourlidas (SoloHI) - 2023-04-15: R_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Nanoflares for prominence (or AR) observations at the East limb (quadrature with Earth) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Parenti (EUI), T. Kucera (SPICE) - 2023-04-15: L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Connection-Mosaic (2 days long) for finding the connection point with S/C - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: D. Hassler, V. Zambrana Prado, A. Giunta - (2023-04-17: Quadrature with Earth and radial alignment with PSP at 0.7 au)
- 2023-04-18 (in between RSWs): L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Eruption-Watch for Metis and SPICE, supported by EUI full disk synoptics - Disk Centre pointing
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro
RSW9 (2023-04-20 - 2023-04-25)
- 2023-04-20: L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Coronal-Dynamics at disk centre, led by Metis.
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - (Solar eclipse on Earth, potential collaboration with ALMA)
- 2023-04-21: L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Slow-Wind-Connection, >3-days-long SOOP with daily tracking of the most likely connection point with the S/C - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Yardley, A. James - 2023-04-24: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Polar-Observations of North pole region, in coordination with South pole region being observed by Earth in parallel - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: J. Sinjan
Opportunities after RSWs:
- 2023-06-21: L_FULL_LRES_MCAD_Probe-Quadrature: Pointing to West limb for context to PSP perihelion and quadrature on 22 June 03:45 and 8:38 resp.
SOOP Coordinator: A. Zhukov
IS calibrations:
- 2023-05-29: MAG calibration roll - 13 revolutions around SC-Sun-axis
RS calibrations:
- 2023-03-20: Metis (+ SoloHI) Calibration CC_OFFPOI_STRAYLIGHT
- 2023-03-20: Metis (+ SoloHI) Calibration CC_ROLLS_RS
- 2023-03-21: PHI calibration CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL
- 2023-04-03: PHI calibration CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL
- 2023-04-06: PHI calibration CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL (inside 0.32 au)
- 2023-04-15: PHI calibration CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL
- 2023-04-20: Metis observation of alpha Leo calibration star
- 2023-04-25: PHI calibration CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL
- 2023-05-08: CC_OFFPOI_STAR placeholder for alpha Virgo observations by both Metis (disk centre pointing) and high-resolution telescopes (limb pointing)
SOOP Coordinator: L. Teriaca - 2023-06-06 to 14: Metis-only star calibrations delta Sco and pi Sco
- 2023-06-17 to 24: Metis-only star calibration tau Sco
IS-only science:
EPD & STIX observations with constant telemetry rates throughout LTPs 10-13
Other in situ instruments in high rate whenever within 0.8 au, also beyond 0.8 au in good downlink conditions
=> For LTP11 this means high rates until 2023-05-28, then nominal rate (EID-A) for low downlink period far from the Sun
SOOP Kitchen plan
High-level (=MLP) plan: https://solarorbiter.esac.esa.int/soopkitchen/#/planning/plan/Mission%20Level%20Plan%20NMP%20Segment%202%20limit baseline 2
Starting point for LTP planning in SOWG: https://solarorbiter.esac.esa.int/soopkitchen/#/planning/plan/LTP11_Mar2023-Jun2023/1545
Final plan LTP11: https://solarorbiter.esac.esa.int/soopkitchen/#/planning/plan/LTP11_Mar2023-Jun2023
Output has been formally distributed on 2 Feb 2023 (baseline 9).
Version 2 of the plan (baseline 12) was released on 10 March 2023, after an update of the pass schedule and associated plan updates.