Solar Orbiter array deployment

ESA's Solar Orbiter undergoing a solar array deployment test at the IABG facilities in Ottobrunn, Germany on 21 March 2019. The solar panels are suspended from above to simulate the weightlessness of space.

Solar Orbiter will perform a close-up study of our Sun from within the orbit of planet Mercury. It will combine in situ and remote sensing measurements to gain new information about the how our local star works.

Solar Orbiter is an ESA-led mission with NASA participation. It is scheduled for launch from Cape Canaveral in February 2020.