"The ASO-S has now opened a new chapter in China's comprehensive study of the sun from space," he said.Īlthough the sun is about 150 million kilometers from Earth, its activities can generate high-energy particles that fly across space, many of which can reach Earth's atmosphere and affect a variety of technological systems. Launching China's own solar observatory has been a common aspiration of Chinese astrophysicists for decades, Gan said. Gan Weiqun, chief scientist for the ASO-S, said that since 2010, China has ranked second in the world regarding the number of papers published on solar physics, but most of these studies were done using data collected by instruments from other countries. These missions include NASA's Parker Solar Probe, the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter, and India's upcoming Aditya-L1. To examine the upcoming solar maximum period, countries around the world have launched multiple sun-gazing space observatories in recent years. Last year, China launched a small, experimental satellite called the Chinese Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Explorer to study solar flares and serve as a precursor to the ASO-S. It was launched by a Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gobi Desert. The telescope is nicknamed Kuafu-1, after a giant in Chinese mythology who chased the sun. Probing these phenomena will help scientists understand the turbulent space weather created by the sun, which can potentially knock out infrastructure and sensitive equipment on Earth and in orbit like satellites, electronics, power grids and internet services. The Advanced Space-Based Solar Observatory, or the ASO-S, will provide critical insights on the two most violent activities of Earth's closest star: solar flares and coronal mass ejections, along with the powerful radiation and complex magnetic fields they generate. Telescope: Mission opens new chapter in solar studyĬhina launched its first comprehensive space-based solar telescope on Sunday, allowing scientists to capture and study unprecedented images of the sun during its most active phase, known as solar maximum, a period of intense solar activity set to peak around 2025. A Long March-2 rocket, carrying the Advanced Space-Based Solar Observatory, launches at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gobi Desert on Oct 9, 2022.
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