The European apparatus successfully coped with the test.
European Solar Orbiter strong> collided with a powerful stream of plasma thrown out by the Sun. The plasma covered the device right before the maneuver it carried out near Venus, according to Space.com.
A huge coronal mass ejection (CME) occurred on the Sun on August 30, and it was directed towards Venus. Soon after, a giant bubble of plasma enveloped the Solar Orbiter, which at that moment was preparing for the last orbital flyby of this planet.
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Fortunately, ESA's laboratory was designed to measure such explosions, so it was ready to face such a collision.
Solar Orbiter is equipped with 10 instruments designed to observe the surface of the Sun and collect data about the CME and the star's magnetic field . Some of these instruments were turned off during the close approach to Venus due to the potential risk of sunlight being reflected by the planet's strong atmosphere.
But despite this, the Solar Orbiter was able to gather some important information about the environment during its encounter with the CME. , registering an increase in the number of charged particles. And later, the spacecraft successfully made a close approach to Venus.
“The close approach went exactly as planned, thanks to careful planning by our colleagues at Flight Dynamics and the diligent work of the flight control team,” said Jose-Luis Pellon-Bailon. , Solar Orbiter operations manager.
The approach was originally intended to allow the spacecraft to adjust its orbit and get closer to the Sun. But during the flyby, he was also able to observe the magnetic field of Venus.
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