LTP15 will run from 2024-03-11T00:00:00 to 2024-07-01T00:00:00
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_2024H1.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
SWT-36 (April 2023) decided on the following RS windows to be placed in LTP-15 at the following times and locations:
Window | EXT Start | Start | End | Heliocentric | Heliographic | SC-Sun-Earth | Conjunction | Safe Mode Comms Blackout | Largest | GAM Restrictions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSW13 (12 d) | 2024-03-11 | 2024-03-13T00:00:00 | 2024-03-25T00:00:00 | 0.53 | 0.37 | -6.27 | -8.0 (24-03-24) | -7.99 | 14.07 | 0.6 (24-03-20) | 14.8 | / | / | |||
| RSW14 (14 d) | 2024-03-27T00:00:00 | 2024-04-10T00:00:00 | 0.34 | 0.29 | 0.32 | -7.79 | 2.88 | 23.3 | 107.7 | / | / | |||||
| RSW15 (4 d) | 2024-04-12T00:00:00 | 2024-04-16T00:00:00 | 0.34 | 0.38 | 4.37 | 6.37 | 117.7 | 133.5 | / | / | ||||||
GAMs and conjunctions
- Inferior conjunction on 2024-03-20 does not have effect on data downlink or operations
- 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
Coordinated science (and cross-calibration) campaigns:
As agreed at SWT #36 (April 2023), to be worked out in further detail during SOWG in Jan 2024:
RSW 13 Sun-Earth line crossing (2024-03-13 to 2024-03-25)
2024-03-13: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Full-Disk-Mosaic - 25 pointings to cover full solar disk (5 hours)
SOOP Coordinator: D. Berghmans- 2023-03-13 to 16: L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Eruption-Watch Metis-led, Disk Centre pointing
SOOP Coordinator: C. Sasso - 2024-03-20: Metis calibration at sun centre (~ 3hrs)
- 2024-03-20 to 22: SPICE-led L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Composition-Mosaic to find connection point with S/C, at Sun-Earth line crossing. 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 0.43 au (2023-03-20)
SOOP Coordinators: A. To - 2023-03-22 (TBC): R_SMALL_MRES_HCAD_Sunspot-Oscillations (8 hrs) - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Fludra - 2023-03-23 to 24: L_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Major-Flare flare hunting campaign - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: D. Ryan
RSW 14 Perihelion and quadrature with Earth (2024-03-27 to 2024-04-10)
- 2024-03-27 to 28 (TBC): disk centre pointed observations leading up to the PSP-SO quadrature
- 2024-03-29 to 30: PSP-SO quadrature observations including
- L_FULL_LRES_MCAD_Probe-Quadrature Limb scan with SPICE + HRI (3 pointings) to scan the East limb where PSP will fly over (preferably southern hemisphere for WISPR; details TBC)
SOOP coordinators: A. Zhukov, D. Telloni + T. Kucera for SPICE mosaic. - L_BOTH_HRES_LCAD_CH-Boundary-Expansion Metis-led disk centre observations
SOOP coordinator: R. Susino - R_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Density-Fluctuations (2-3 hrs) Metis-led disk centre observations
SOOP coordinator: V. Andretta
- L_FULL_LRES_MCAD_Probe-Quadrature Limb scan with SPICE + HRI (3 pointings) to scan the East limb where PSP will fly over (preferably southern hemisphere for WISPR; details TBC)
- 2024-03-31 to 04-04: Solar wind connection tracking through L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Slow-Wind-Connection, L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Fast-Wind or L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Ballistic-connection depending on the likely nature of the solar wind at the time.
SOOP coordinators: L. Franci, supported by C. Froment and S. Mzerguat - 2024-04-04: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst for high-resolution science close to perihelion, at an active region target - pVSTP
SOOP coordinators: D. Ryan, A. Siu Tapia - 2024-04-05 to 06: L_BOTH_HRES_HCAD_Major-Flare flare hunting campaign, aiming at studying the Orrall-Zirker effect. Potentially coordinated with sounding rocket launch - pVSTP
SOOP coordinators: D. Ryan, A. Inglis, T. Kucera or G. Kerr - 2024-04-06 to 09: Earth quadrature (7 April) and Solar Eclipse on Earth (8 April). Disk centre pointing.
L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Eruption-Watch Metis-led, Disk Centre pointing
SOOP Coordinator: C. Sasso, K. Barcinzky
RSW 15 (2024-04-12 to 2024-04-16)
- Solar wind connection tracking through L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Slow-Wind-Connection, L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Fast-Wind or L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Ballistic-connection depending on the expected nature of the solar wind at the time.
SOOP coordinators: L. Franci, supported by C. Froment and S. Mzerguat
IS calibrations:
RS calibrations:
- 2024-05-01: Star calibration Metis + EUI/SPICE (requiring limb pointing) for Alpha Virginis
IS-only science:
SOOP Kitchen plan
High-level (=MLP) plan: https://solarorbiter.esac.esa.int/soopkitchen/#/planning/plan/Mission%20Level%20Plan%20for%20NMP%20Segment%203
Starting point for LTP planning in SOWG: to be added after LTP-15 event files have been received from MOC (expected end Dec 2023)
Final plan LTP15: to be added after SOWG review and final consolidation of plan (expected end Jan 2024)