Ulysses orbit around Sun

Following the successful completion of its primary mission, Ulysses is now on its way to two further passes over the Sun's poles. After reaching 5.4 AU (the distance of Jupiter's orbit) in April 1998, Ulysses is now heading back towards the Sun for a second southern solar pass above 70 deg latitude during September 2000 to January 2001, and a similar northern pass during September to December 2001.

Ulysses is a joint ESA mission with NASA studying the interplanetary medium and solar wind in the inner heliosphere beyond the Sun's equator for the first time. Its high-inclination solar orbit took it over the Sun's south pole in 1994 and then the north pole in 1995. [Image Date: 11-05-96] [96.05.004-001]