This page contains a list of possible opportunities for coordinated science to be carried out between Solar Orbiter and Bepi Colombo. The orbits of the spacecraft were simply analysed by eye to pick out events like radial alignments, periods when the spacecraft are at the same heliocentric distance, and periods of quadrature. An animation of the GSE projection of both orbits, along with other information (more geared towards Solar Orbiter) that was the basis for the analysis can be found here: Orbit_Feb2020_Bepi.mp4. A relevant from from the animation has been extracted for each of the opportunities listed below.
Note this list is incomplete. If you would like any additions let us know.
| Date | SOLO Phase | Bepi Phase | SOLO R | Bepi R | Notes | Orbit Plot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-12-06 | Cruise (LTP02) | Cruise | 0.82 | 0.82 | Same radial distance, 30 degrees separation in longitude. NAV window for Solar Orbiter | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP02_202012061158_bc.png |
| 2021-10-03 | Cruise (LTP04) | Cruise | 0.65 | 0.36 | Radial alignment. In view of Earth and STEREO-A. PSP at 0.8 AU about 20 degrees behind in longitude | |
| 2022-03-06 | Nominal (LTP05) | Cruise | 0.5 | 0.4 | About 60 degrees separation in longitude, Bepi in SoloHI FoV? First RSW | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP05_202203062358_bc.png |
| 2022-10-21 | Nominal (LTP06) | Cruise | 0.35 | 0.35 | Same radial distance. 20 degrees separation in longitude. 5 degrees separation in latitude. Both in view of Stereo A & Earth. PSP at aphelion, radial with SOLO. | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP06_202210211158_bc.png |
| 2022-11-03 | Nominal (LTP06) | Cruise | 0.52 | 0.31 | Quadrature during North RSW BC not in SoloHI FoV | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP06_202210211158_bc.png |
| 2023-03-14 | Nominal (LTP07) | Cruise | 0.6 | 0.4 | Radial Alignment about 5 degree separation in latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP07_202303141158_bc.png |
| 2023-03-22 | Nominal (LTP07) | Cruise | 0.48 | 0.48 | Same heliocentric distance 5ish degrees separation in lat & lon | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP07_202303221158_bc.png |
| 2023-03-29 | Nominal (LTP07) | Cruise | 0.4 | 0.55 | Radial alignment, RSW, Sun-Earth line, 6ish degrees separation in Latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP07_202303291158_bc.png |
| 2023-06-26 | Nominal (LTP07) | Cruise | 0.95 | 0.3 | Radial alignment, more or less the same latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP07_202306261158_bc.png |
| 2023-10-13 | Nominal (LTP08) | Cruise | 0.32 | 0.32 | Quadrature, same latitude, same heliocentric distance, BC not in SoloHI FoV. Easy shift of RSW? | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP08_202310131158_bc.png |
| 2024-02-11 | Nominal (LTP09) | Cruise | 0.85 | 0.35 | Radial alignment, same latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP09_202402111158_bc.png |
| 2024-04-01 | Nominal (LTP09) | Cruise | 0.28 | 0.6 | Radial alignment, also with PSP (0.2 AU - outbound) BC & solo same latitude, PSP a couple of degrees out. | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP09_202404011158_bc.png |
| 2024-05-19 | Nominal (LTP09) | Cruise | 0.8 | 0.35 | Radial alignment, a few degrees difference in latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP09_202405191158_bc.png |
| 2024-12-03 | Nominal (LTP10) | Cruise | 0.9 | 0.35 | Radial alignment, same latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP10_202412031158_bc.png |
| 2025-03-19 | Nominal (LTP11) | Cruise | 0.4 | 0.4 | a few degrees separation in longitude, either side of Sun-Earth line. RSW 20 degrees separation in latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP11_202503191158_bc.png |
| 2025-05-26 | Nominal (LTP11) | Cruise | 0.82 | 0.32 | Radial alignment, far side, 10 degrees latitude separation | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP11_202505261158_bc.png |
| 2025-11-23 | Nominal (LTP12) | Cruise | 0.82 | 0.32 | Radial alignment, far side, 10 degrees latitude separation. Just before Mercury arrival | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP12_202511231158_bc.png |
| 2027-07-17 | Extended (LTP16) | Extended | 0.35 | 0.35 | 2 degrees separation in longitude. 20ish in latitude | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP16_202707171158_bc.png |
| 2027-11-20 | Extended (LTP16) | Extended | 0.35 | 0.4 | Radial alignment, RSW, Upstream monitor for Mercury, but 25 degree lat separation. | GSE_Orbit_Plot_LTP16_202711201158_bc.png |
