Ulysses
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Ulysses was a space craft that was sent to study the heliosphere and to explore the solar environment at high ecliptic latitudes. The unique craft was sent by NASA and European Space Agency. There were ten instruments included in the space craft. The instruments measured the suns fields and particles such as, ultra-violet, X-Rays, and Gamma Rays. In fact, Ulysses was the first NASA mission to study above and below the poles of our sun. This mission was 18 years! During these 18 years, Ulysses orbited the sun about three complete times. This revealed galactic cosmic radiation, and energetic particles produced in solar storms and solar winds.
Ulysses allowed scientists to get more information about the heliosphere. Ulysses also allowed scientists to observe the sun for the longest period of time than ever before. Ulysses had a 6 year orbit over the suns poles! This allowed scientists to observe our star, the sun, from an unparalleled angle during both calm and unstable periods. Ulysses made first direct measurements of interstellar dust particles and helium atoms in the Solar System. Once again, Ulysses also helped scientists learn that the sun is balanced across latitudes.
Ulysses launched on October 6, 1990. There were multiple other events too, such as the flyby of the suns North Pole, and the International mission studying sun to conclude. Ulysses also reached Jupiter for its gravitational slingshot in February of 1992. The Ulysses spacecraft can operate in 4 different telemetry. The current status of the mission is successful. Some facts about the mission were that the overall design of the Ulysses spacecraft is dictated by the large distances from the Earth and the Sun at which the spacecraft has to operate. The incredible craft had X-Ray/cosmic gamma ray burst sensors. In fact, the space craft had several instruments in
which it could study the sun and its surface. The new creation would also send pictures to either NASA or ESA (European Space Agency).
The total mission duration is 6,842 days! This is even longer than the previous record for the longest running ESA operated spacecraft. That mission was 6,822 days long! That is still incredibly long. Ulysses operations cost ESA about $4 million each per year! That is an incredible amount of money! I think the scientific purpose of the mission definitely justifies the cost because without the help of Ulysses, we would have no clue what the suns poles were like or any ideas about the suns fields and particles. If Ulysses wasnt created by NASA and ESA in 1990, I dont think we would know much about the sun at all. Ulysses was created because scientists were curious of what and how the sun works. They wanted to know everything about it. That is why they spent their money on this extraordinary mission.
Important Ulysses dates:
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