Skip all navigation and jump to content Jump to site navigation Jump to section navigation.
NASA Logo - Goddard Space Flight Center + Visit NASA.gov
HOME PROJECTS RESOURCES SEARCH MAP

+ Advanced Search
Home
Home
View Most Recently Released Imagery
View Gallery of Imagery: A topical collection of SVS Imagery
Search Imagery by the keywords assigned to it
Search Imagery by the instruments that supplied data for a visualization product
Search Imagery by the series of visualizations that have been produced
Search Imagery by the scientist providing the data used in a visualization product
Search Imagery by the animator that created the product
Search Imagery by the identification number assigned to the visualization product
See other search options
Learn about the SVS Image Server
  + About the Server
  + Animation List
  + How to Use the Server


  + RSS Feeds
  + Podcasts


  + Opportunities
blank image
Previous Animation
Next Animation
STEREO's Routes to Solar Orbits

The two STEREO spacecraft, A (red path) and B (yellow path), are launched from the Earth into a highly eccentric orbit with an apogee that reaches the orbit of the Moon. Once in this orbit, the trajectories are adjusted so they can receive gravity-assists from the Moon. The gravity assist will send them both into heliocentric orbits, one spacecraft ahead of the Earth and the other behind the Earth.

This trajectory was generated using a spacecraft ephemeris generated shortly after launch.


This movie illustrates the lunar gravity assist that sends the STEREO spacecraft into their heliocentric orbit.  This version has date labels.    This movie illustrates the lunar gravity assist that sends the STEREO spacecraft into their heliocentric orbit. This version has date labels.
Duration: 51.0 seconds
Available formats:
  320x240 (30 fps) MPEG-1   4 MB
  640x480 (30 fps) MPEG-1   12 MB
  720x480 (30 fps) MPEG-2   13 MB
  720x486 (29.97 fps) Frames (Date)
  320x240     JPEG         10 KB
  320x240 (30 fps) X-FLV       1 MB
How to play our movies


This movie illustrates the lunar gravity assist that sends the STEREO spacecraft into their heliocentric orbit.  This version does not have date labels.    This movie illustrates the lunar gravity assist that sends the STEREO spacecraft into their heliocentric orbit. This version does not have date labels.
Duration: 51.0 seconds
Available formats:
  320x240 (60 fps) MPEG-1   3 MB
  640x480 (60 fps) MPEG-1   10 MB
  720x480 (60 fps) MPEG-2   11 MB
  720x486 (29.97 fps) Frames (Nodate)
  320x240     JPEG         8 KB
  320x240 (60 fps) X-FLV       895 KB
How to play our movies


This movie has a slightly altered camera path and rendered in Left/Right eye pairs for stereo projection.    This movie has a slightly altered camera path and rendered in Left/Right eye pairs for stereo projection.
Duration: 45.0 seconds
Available formats:
  1280x720 (29.97 fps) Frames (Lefteye)
  1280x720 (29.97 fps) Frames (Righteye)
  1280x720 (30 fps) MPEG-4   6 MB
  320x180     PNG           24 KB
How to play our movies


STEREO A and B speed away from the Earth.  Currently their trajectories are too close together to distinguish as separate spacecraft.    STEREO A and B speed away from the Earth. Currently their trajectories are too close together to distinguish as separate spacecraft.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   985 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     20 KB


STEREO A and B speed away from the Earth.  Currently their trajectories are too close together to distinguish as separate spacecraft.  This version has no date information.    STEREO A and B speed away from the Earth. Currently their trajectories are too close together to distinguish as separate spacecraft. This version has no date information.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   784 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     18 KB


The spacecraft leave the Earth behind.    The spacecraft leave the Earth behind.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   380 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     14 KB


The spacecraft leave the Earth behind.  This is the 'no date' version.    The spacecraft leave the Earth behind. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   176 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     12 KB


The spacecraft pass apogee, at the orbit of the Moon.  The Moon and it's orbit are represented by the white sphere and green curve.    The spacecraft pass apogee, at the orbit of the Moon. The Moon and it's orbit are represented by the white sphere and green curve.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   413 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     22 KB


The spacecraft pass apogee, at the orbit of the Moon.  The Moon and it's orbit are represented by the white sphere and green curve.  This is the 'no date' version.    The spacecraft pass apogee, at the orbit of the Moon. The Moon and it's orbit are represented by the white sphere and green curve. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   214 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     20 KB


STEREO continues in geocentric orbit, waiting for the Moon to reach the optimum position.    STEREO continues in geocentric orbit, waiting for the Moon to reach the optimum position.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   432 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     25 KB


STEREO continues in geocentric orbit, waiting for the Moon to reach the optimum position.  This is the 'no date' version.    STEREO continues in geocentric orbit, waiting for the Moon to reach the optimum position. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   229 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     23 KB


As the Moon passes, STEREO moves behind, receiving a gravitational nudge which increases its speed.    As the Moon passes, STEREO moves behind, receiving a gravitational nudge which increases its speed.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   425 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     24 KB


As the Moon passes, STEREO moves behind, receiving a gravitational nudge which increases its speed.  This is the 'no date' version.    As the Moon passes, STEREO moves behind, receiving a gravitational nudge which increases its speed. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   226 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     22 KB


The spacecraft move out from the Earth-Moon system.  This is the 'no date' version.    The spacecraft move out from the Earth-Moon system. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   207 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     20 KB


While STEREO A continues outward, STEREO B doesn't have quite enough speed and curves back Earthward, receiving an extra boost from the Moon.    While STEREO A continues outward, STEREO B doesn't have quite enough speed and curves back Earthward, receiving an extra boost from the Moon.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   393 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     20 KB


While STEREO A continues outward, STEREO B doesn't have quite enough speed and curves back Earthward, receiving an extra boost from the Moon. This is the 'no date' version.    While STEREO A continues outward, STEREO B doesn't have quite enough speed and curves back Earthward, receiving an extra boost from the Moon. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   191 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     17 KB
  160 x 80           PNG         2 KB
  80 x 40             PNG         1 KB


Relative to the Earth, STEREO A appears to move towards the Sun while STEREO B moves away from the Sun.  The Sun moves into the field of view.    Relative to the Earth, STEREO A appears to move towards the Sun while STEREO B moves away from the Sun. The Sun moves into the field of view.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   440 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     17 KB


Relative to the Earth, STEREO A appears to move towards the Sun while STEREO B moves away from the Sun.  The Sun moves into the field of view.  This is the 'no date' version.    Relative to the Earth, STEREO A appears to move towards the Sun while STEREO B moves away from the Sun. The Sun moves into the field of view. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   242 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     14 KB


By April, 2007, the two STEREO spacecraft have left the Earth and Moon far behind.    By April, 2007, the two STEREO spacecraft have left the Earth and Moon far behind.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   448 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     20 KB


By April, 2007, the two STEREO spacecraft have left the Earth and Moon far behind.  This is the 'no date' version.    By April, 2007, the two STEREO spacecraft have left the Earth and Moon far behind. This is the 'no date' version.

Available formats:
  2560 x 1920     TIFF   249 KB
  320 x 240         JPEG     18 KB

Animation Number:3364
Completed:2007-02-05
Animators:Tom Bridgman (GST) (Lead)
 Walt Feimer (HTSI)
Scientists:Therese Kucera (NASA/GSFC)
 Michael Kaiser (NASA/GSFC)
Platforms/Sensors/Data Sets:STEREO
 SSCweb
Data Collected:October 25, 2006 - April 27, 2007
Series:STEREO Post-Launch
Keywords:
SVS >> Earth
SVS >> HDTV
SVS >> Moon
SVS >> Sun
SVS >> Orbit
SVS >> Stereo Display
 
 
Please give credit for this item to
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio


Back to Top

USA.gov logo - the U.S. Government's official Web portal. + Privacy Policy and Important Notices
+ Reproduction Guidelines
NASA NASA Official:
SVS Contact:
Curator: