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.
5th orbit in EMP: 3 RS windows, S and N windows reach max latitude 31º ; perihelia at 0.3AU.
RS window (default) placement
Period | Window/GAM | EXT Start | Start | End | Hcentric | Distance | Range | Hgraphic | Latitude | Range | SC-Sun- | Earth | Angle | Conjunction | Safe Mode Comms Blackout | Largest Comms Roll | GAM Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTP 16 | South | 2026-09-16 | 2026-09-20 | 2026-09-30 | 0.50 | 0.43 | 0.38 | -30.08 | -31.27 | -28.73 | 116 | 129 | 147 | NO | NO | 00 | NO |
| MTP 16 | Perihelion | 2026-10-03 | 2026-10-07 | 2026-10-17 | 0.32 | 0.30 | 0.31 | -17.54 | 03.18 | 20.02 | 179 | 156 | 129 | YES (RSW Days 1 to 4) | YES (RSW Days 1 to 4) | -17 | NO |
| MTP 16 | North | 2026-10-18 | 2026-10-22 | 2026-11-01 | 0.35 | 0.41 | 0.47 | 28.07 | 31.29 | 29.49 | 104 | 084 | 069 | NO | NO | 00 | NO |
Proposal
MTP16 - full orbit:
- During this orbit, RS observations can run from pole to pole with minimal interruption. This is particularly interesting for L_Pole-to-Pole SOOP.
- Alternatively, if RSwindows can be linked together: L_FULL_LRES_MCAD_Coronal_Synoptic (also requires long duration RS observations)
- Other candidate: run R_FULL_HRES_HCAD_Density-Fluctuations at each RSwindow (not too far out for Metis to still see the density fluctuations). 8 hour per window should be enough. Metis is leading, thus disk-centre pointing!
MTP16 - South:
MTP16 - Perihelion:
- L_FULL_MRES_MCAD_Flare_SEPs could be run at perihelion. Requires medium TM.
MTP16 - North:
- North window is one of closest high-lat windows, and thus suitable for L_SMALL_HRES_HCAD_Fast-Wind to address 1.1.1.2 Origin of the small-scale X-ray and UV jets in polar coronal holes