SDO

A graphic image that represents the SDO mission

Full Name: Solar Dynamics Observatory

Phase: Development

Launch Date: TBD

Mission Project Home Page: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Program(s): Living With a Star

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is the first mission to be launched for NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) Program, a program designed to understand those aspects of the Sun and Solar System that directly affect life and society. SDO's goal is to understand the causes of solar variations that influence life on Earth and humanity's technological systems. SDO is designed to help us understand the Sun’s influence on Earth and Near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and in many wavelengths simultaneously. SDO will study the interior of the Sun, the Sun's magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and how variations in the Sun’s activity (also called space weather) are created.

SDO data will help us to understand the cause of the Sun's magnetic activity changes. It will determine how the magnetic field is generated and structured, and how the stored magnetic energy is released into the heliosphere and geospace. SDO data and analysis will also help us develop the ability to predict the solar activity variations that influence life on Earth and humanity's technological systems.

SDO will observe different layers in solar atmosphere from visible surface, photosphere, to outer corona using a suite of instruments. This set of instruments includes:

  • HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager)The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager will extend the capabilities of the SOHO/MDI instrument with continuous full-disk coverage at higher spatial resolution allowing us to peer inside the sun by studying solar variations.
  • AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly)The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly will image the solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths to link changes in the solar atmosphere to interior changes. AIA will provide extraordinary views of the solar atmosphere through a combination of high spatial resolution, high temporal cadence, large field of view, and large temperature coverage. Data will include images of the full Sun in 10 wavelengths every 10 seconds.
  • EVE (Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment)The Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment will measure the solar extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) light output with unprecedented spectral resolution, temporal cadence, and precision. This will help scientists to understand the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral irradiance and to understand the variations that influence Earth's climate and near-Earth space.

SDO is scheduled to launch in November 2009.