Solar OrbiterAtlas V 411United Launch Alliance Launch Status Success Sun ยท Feb 9th, 2020 11:03 PM - 1:03 AM EST Watch Online MissionSolar OrbiterType: HeliophysicsSolar Orbiter is a joint ESA/NASA mission dedicated to solar and heliospheric physics. It will be used to examine how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere, the vast bubble of charged particles blown by the solar wind into the interstellar medium. The spacecraft will combine in situ and remote sensing observations to gain new information about the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, solar energetic particles, transient interplanetary disturbances and the Sun's magnetic field. Instruments include: * Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) * Energetic Particle Detector (EPD) * Magnetometer (MAG) * Radio and Plasma Wave analyser (RPW) * Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (PHI) * Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) * Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment (SPICE) * Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) * Coronagraph (Metis) While mission is not intended to get as close to the Sun as Parker Solar Probe, it's designed to coordinate observations and has different set of instruments. Main mission starts after one and only Earth flyby in November 2021, and lasts until Dec 2026 when it enters extended phase. During the mission, Solar Orbiter will get through numerous Venus gravity assists, and its trajectory will be highly inclined allowing direct observations of Sun's poles. LocationSpace Launch Complex 41Cape Canaveral, FL, USA215 rockets have launched from Cape Canaveral, FL, USA. RocketAtlas V 411Length: 58.3 meters Diameter: 3.8 meters First Launch: April 20, 2006Atlas V with 4m fairing, 1 SRB, 1 Centaur upper stage engine.The Atlas V 411 rocket has been launched a total of 5 times with 5 successful and 0 failed launches. AgencyUnited Launch AllianceType: Commercial Abbreviation: ULA Administration: CEO: Tory Bruno Founded: 2006 Launchers: Atlas | Delta IV | Vulcan Spacecraft: CST-100 Starliner Country: USAUnited Launch Alliance (ULA) is a joint venture of Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. ULA was formed in December 2006 by combining the teams at these companies which provide spacecraft launch services to the government of the United States. ULA launches from both coasts of the US. They launch their Atlas V vehicle from LC-41 in Cape Canaveral and LC-3E at Vandeberg. Their Delta IV launches from LC-37 at Cape Canaveral and LC-6 at Vandenberg. View Rocket Launch Schedule