Future Missions

There are several possible missions planned for the future, some of them have got the go ahead, others are still waiting to hear.

Click on any of the missions in the table to find out more about it.

Mission
Proposed
Launch
Notes

Missions Going Ahead

Koronas

1999

This is a Russian solar mission, it will include a Bragg Crystal Spectrometer, like the one on board Yohkoh.

HESSI

2000

The High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager is intended to study solar flares. It is a NASA small explorer mission like TRACE.

Cluster II

2000

Cluster I went wrong when the Arianne V rocket carrying it exploded just after launch. The four satellites have been rebuilt and will study the effects of the solar wind on the Earth.

Solar-B

2004

A Japanese Instute for Space and Astronautical Science satellite with several instruments, including an optical telescope, and X-ray imaging telescope, a spectrometer for magnetic field measurements and an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager.

SMEI

Unknown

The Solar Mass Ejection Imager, funded by the US Air Force. The USAF does not assign launch dates well ahead of time as NASA ans ESA do, instead it will be launched when there is a suitable free slot.

Missions being Planned

HIREX

2003

An American super-high resolution Extreme Ultraviolet telescope. Similar to TRACE but with much higher resolution.

HALE

2003

This mission would basically include two instruments, a Solar imager like TRACE and a Dopplergram, like the MDI instrument on SOHO. This mission is in competition with HIREX for the same funding, they can not both go ahead.

NASA Stereo

2004

This would involve two satellites imaging the Sun from different angles, so a 3D model of the coronal structures could be made. Instruments would include an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, a magnetograph, a coronagraph and a heliospheric imager.

NASA Solar Probe

Unknown

This would send a probe into the Sun, data would be collected for as long as possible, including what elements the outer atmosphere is comprised of.

ESA F-class Mission

2007/8

Plans are underway for a European solar mission, it hasn't been decided what yet, but a solar orbiter is most likely. This would include a UK led optical telescope (probably an Extreme Ultraviolet telescope).

Mission	Proposed Launch	Notes
Missions Going Ahead
Koronas	1999	This is a Russian solar mission, it will include a Bragg Crystal Spectrometer, like the one on board Yohkoh.
HESSI	2000	The High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager is intended to study solar flares. It is a NASA small explorer mission like TRACE.
Cluster II	2000	Cluster I went wrong when the Arianne V rocket carrying it exploded just after launch. The four satellites have been rebuilt and will study the effects of the solar wind on the Earth.
Solar-B	2004	A Japanese Instute for Space and Astronautical Science satellite with several instruments, including an optical telescope, and X-ray imaging telescope, a spectrometer for magnetic field measurements and an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager.
SMEI	Unknown	The Solar Mass Ejection Imager, funded by the US Air Force. The USAF does not assign launch dates well ahead of time as NASA ans ESA do, instead it will be launched when there is a suitable free slot.
Missions being Planned
HIREX	2003	An American super-high resolution Extreme Ultraviolet telescope. Similar to TRACE but with much higher resolution.
HALE	2003	This mission would basically include two instruments, a Solar imager like TRACE and a Dopplergram, like the MDI instrument on SOHO. This mission is in competition with HIREX for the same funding, they can not both go ahead.
NASA Stereo	2004	This would involve two satellites imaging the Sun from different angles, so a 3D model of the coronal structures could be made. Instruments would include an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, a magnetograph, a coronagraph and a heliospheric imager.
NASA Solar Probe	Unknown	This would send a probe into the Sun, data would be collected for as long as possible, including what elements the outer atmosphere is comprised of.
ESA F-class Mission	2007/8	Plans are underway for a European solar mission, it hasn't been decided what yet, but a solar orbiter is most likely. This would include a UK led optical telescope (probably an Extreme Ultraviolet telescope).

Mission

Proposed Launch

Notes

Missions Going Ahead

Koronas

1999

This is a Russian solar mission, it will include a Bragg Crystal Spectrometer, like the one on board Yohkoh.

HESSI

2000

The High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager is intended to study solar flares. It is a NASA small explorer mission like TRACE.

Cluster II

2000

Cluster I went wrong when the Arianne V rocket carrying it exploded just after launch. The four satellites have been rebuilt and will study the effects of the solar wind on the Earth.

Solar-B

2004

A Japanese Instute for Space and Astronautical Science satellite with several instruments, including an optical telescope, and X-ray imaging telescope, a spectrometer for magnetic field measurements and an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager.

SMEI

Unknown

The Solar Mass Ejection Imager, funded by the US Air Force. The USAF does not assign launch dates well ahead of time as NASA ans ESA do, instead it will be launched when there is a suitable free slot.

Missions being Planned

HIREX

2003

An American super-high resolution Extreme Ultraviolet telescope. Similar to TRACE but with much higher resolution.

HALE

2003

This mission would basically include two instruments, a Solar imager like TRACE and a Dopplergram, like the MDI instrument on SOHO. This mission is in competition with HIREX for the same funding, they can not both go ahead.

NASA Stereo

2004

This would involve two satellites imaging the Sun from different angles, so a 3D model of the coronal structures could be made. Instruments would include an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager, a magnetograph, a coronagraph and a heliospheric imager.

NASA Solar Probe

Unknown

This would send a probe into the Sun, data would be collected for as long as possible, including what elements the outer atmosphere is comprised of.

ESA F-class Mission

2007/8

Plans are underway for a European solar mission, it hasn't been decided what yet, but a solar orbiter is most likely. This would include a UK led optical telescope (probably an Extreme Ultraviolet telescope).

Go back to Solar Explorers page

Proposed
Launch