LTP13 will run from 2023-09-25T00:00:00 to 2024-01-01T00:00:00
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_2023H2.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
As tentatively agreed during the SWT-32, the 3 RS windows in H2-2023 will be placed in LTP-13 at the following times and locations:
Window | EXT Start | Start | End | Heliocentric | Heliographic | SC-Sun-Earth | Conjunction | Safe Mode Comms Blackout | Largest Comms Roll | GAM Restrictions | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSW10 (10 d) | 2023-09-27T00:00:00 (TBC) | 2023-10-01T00:00:00 | 2023-10-11T00:00:00 | 0.33 | 0.29 23-10-07 | 0.31 | -7.33 | 0 23-10-10 | 0.86 | 147 | 90 23-10-10 | 84 | / | / | TBC | / |
| RSW11 (10 d) | 2023-10-11T00:00:00 | 2023-10-12T00:00:00 | 2023-10-22T00:00:00 | 0.31 | 0.42 | 1.8 | 7.16 | 78 | 38 | / | / | TBC | / | |||
| RSW12 (10 d) | 2023-10-22T00:00:00 | 2023-10-23T00:00:00 | 2023-11-02T00:00:00 | 0.44 | 0.56 | 7.36 | 7.98 | 35 | 19 | / | / | TBC | / | |||
GAMs and conjunctions
- Superior conjunction from 2023-09-14 to 2023-09-28, crossing the LTP12-13 boundary: no downlink will be possible during this period.
- 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
Overall objectives:
High-resolution observations around the perihelion of 7 October 2023 (0.29 au).
Active region catching, if not done already during the April perihelion. Focus on flux emergence and do more full-disc high-resolution mosaics around 0.5 au.
Coordinated science (and cross-calibration) campaigns:
SOOP plan has been created only at high level (Mission Level Planning), to be worked out further during Long Term Planning. The planned SOOPs and associated coordinators are listed below.
Opportunities before RSWs:
- Starting in LTP12 and running up to RSW10: Metis 3D coronal reconstruction campaign, based on synoptic observations at disk centre.
- 2023-09-27: Pointing to East limb for context to PSP quadrature and perihelion #17, followed by coordinated observations at disk centre for PSP passage #17
(more details in PSP_support_202309_20230220.pdf and PSP-SO_quadrature_September_2023.pdf)
SOOP Coordinator: A. Zhukov, D. Telloni
RSW10 (2023-10-01 - 2023-10-11)
- 2023-10-01: L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Coronal-Dynamics at disk centre, led by Metis (~4 days)
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-10-05: R_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Density-Fluctuations at disk centre (1 day)
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-10-06: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst for high-resolution science close to perihelion, at a quiet sun target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Mandal, A. Siu, H. Peter (C. Nelson, L. Hayes) - 2023-10-06: L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Connection-Mosaic (2 days long) for finding the connection point with S/C - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Giunta, D. Hassler - 2023-10-07: Perihelion at 0.29 au
- 2023-10-08: L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Fast-Wind targeting a potential source region of fast wind. This target is tracked during several days. - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinators: A. James, E. Buchlin, L. Franci (supporting S. Yardley) - 2023-10-10: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_RS-burst for high-resolution science close to perihelion, at an active region target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: S. Mandal, A. Siu, H. Peter (C. Nelson, L. Hayes) - 2023-10-10: L_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_Earth-Quadrature at West limb
SOOP Coordinator: A. Giunta, S. Parenti, D. Berghmans - 2023-10-10: Earth Quadrature West (00:34:17) and STEREO-A Quadrature West (18:11:09)
RSW11 (2023-10-12 - 2023-10-22)
- 2023-10-12 to 20: R_SMALL_MRES_MCAD_AR-Long-Term: Long-term observations of an Active Region to monitor AR plasma parameters variation (incl. SPICE Doppler maps) - 8 days of AR tracking - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinators: J. Sinjan, L. Hayes (supporting S. Parenti, G. Valori) - 2023-10-17: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Polar-Observations at North Pole, 9 hours coordinated with Hinode that will observe the same heliographic latitude - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinators: H. Strecker, J. Blanco - 2023-10-20: R_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Atmospheric_Dynamics_Structure: 12 hours PHI observations at high cadence of an AR, combined with EUI/HRI and SPICE, for studies of flows and waves inside sunspots, requiring stereoscopy - AR/sunspot target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: D. Calchetti - 2023-10-20 to 21: L_BOTH_HRES_LCAD_CH-Boundary-Expansion led by Metis. The main SOOP is scheduled during disk centre pointing. SPICE will support in the hours before, scanning several positions at the limb - pVSTP(limb) + disk centre
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro
RSW12 (2023-10-23 - 2023-11-02)
- 2023-10-22 to 24: L_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Eruption-Watch led by Metis with contributions by SoloHI and full disk telescopes (starts in between RSW11 and 12) - Disk Centre
SOOP Coordinator: D. Spadaro - 2023-10-24 to 26: L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Fast-Wind targeting a potential source region of fast wind. This target is tracked during several days. - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinators: A. James, E. Buchlin, L. Franci (supporting S. Yardley) - 2023-10-27: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_Full-Disk-Mosaic at the time the S/C is at 0.5 au from the Sun - predefined pointing pattern
SOOP Coordinator: D. Berghmans - 2023-10-27: R_BOTH_HRES_MCAD_Bright-Points: SPICE-led 10-hrs study at QS target - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Fludra - 2023-10-28 to 11-01: R_SMALL_HRES_MCAD_AR-Heating : daily 3-hour high cadence observation runs targeting an AR - pVSTP
SOOP Coordinator: A. Fludra
Opportunities after RSWs:
- 2023-11-13: SPICE-led full disk mosaic including full composition rasters (25 positions, 22mins dwells), run at 0.7au from the Sun
- 2023-12-28: PSP Perihelion and Quadrature West: offpointing to the limb and additional roll to get PSP in Metis' fov.
Context for Metis observations in PSP-SO_quadrature_December_2023.pdf
SOOP coordinator: M. Romoli
IS calibrations:
- MAG calibration roll: proposed to be scheduled around 20-21 Nov (TBC)
RS calibrations:
- 2023-09-30: PHI FDT flatfield (CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL)
- 2023-10-11: 2x PHI FDT flatfield, in the gap between RSW10 and 11 (CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL)
- 2023-11-02: PHI FDT flatfield (CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL)
- 2023-11-02: Special type of offpointing mosaic for co-alignment purposes, led by STIX (CC_OFFPOI_ALIGNMENT)
- 2023-11-04: Alpha Vir occultation for Metis calibration
- 2023-12-08: PHI FDT flatfield (CC_OFFPOI_FLATFIELD_FULL)
- 2023-12-06 to 30: more calibration stars for Metis (delta Sco, pi Sco, tau Sco, theta Oph)
IS-only science:
EPD & STIX observations with constant telemetry rates throughout LTPs 10-13
Other in situ instruments in high rate whenever within 0.8 au, also beyond 0.8 au in good downlink conditions => high rates throughout LTP13
SOOP Kitchen plan
High-level (=MLP) plan: https://solarorbiter.esac.esa.int/soopkitchen/#/planning/plan/Mission%20Level%20Plan%20for%20LTP12%20and%2013
Starting point for LTP planning in SOWG: to be added after LTP-13 event files have been received from MOC (expected early July 2023)
Final plan LTP13: to be added after SOWG review and final consolidation of plan (expected early Aug 2023)