Solar Orbiter fuelling

The Solar Orbiter spacecraft (seen in the background) is fuelled with propellants and oxidiser in the hazardous processing facility at Astrotech.

The spacecraft contains hydrazine and MON-3 – a mixture of oxides and nitrogen. Thrusters are used to control the attitude of the spacecraft once in space.

Special suits provide protection to the workers managing the fuelling in the cleanroom.

Solar Orbiter is a space mission of international collaboration between ESA and NASA. The spacecraft has been developed by Airbus. The image was taken at the Astrotech facilities in Titusville, Florida, USA.