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Experiment OverviewSun Monitoring on the External Payload Facility of Columbus - SOLar Auto-Calibrating EUV/UV Spectrophotometers (Solar-SOLACES) measures the extreme-ultraviolet/ultraviolet (EUV/UV) solar spectrum (17 nm to 220 nm) with moderate spectral resolution from the sun.
Principal Investigator(s)
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Developer(s)
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European Space Agency (ESA)
Sponsoring OrganizationInformation Pending
Research BenefitsInformation Pending
ISS Expedition Duration:September 2010 - September 2014
Expeditions Assigned25/26,27/28,29/30,31/32,33/34,35/36,37/38,39/40
Previous ISS MissionsSolar-SOLACES was first operated on ISS Expedition 16.
Solar-SOLACES (Sun Monitoring on the External Payload Facility of Columbus - SOLar Auto-Calibrating EUV/UV Spectrophotometers) measures spectral irradiance in the extreme-UV and UV (16-220 nm) regions at moderate spectral resolution.
The instruments are mounted on a multipurpose Coarse Pointing Device (CPD), which tracks the Sun as it compensates for the Station's orbital motion. The CPD consists of a Control Unit (CU), CPD Mechanical Assembly (CMA) and Sun Sensor. It tracks the Sun in two axes with an accuracy of 1 degree and a stability of 0.3 degrees (over 10 seconds). It provides pointing ranges of +/- 40 degrees along the primary rotational axis, and +/- 25 degrees along the secondary axis.
The CU integrates the data handling, control and communication functions into a single box. It uses ESA's Standard Payload Computer board, and its design is partly based on the Remote Power Distribution Assembly.
The awareness of the environment of the Earth and of the sun radiation level and spectrum is of importance to both Earth-based and space-borne systems as well as to advanced studies on climate. Monitoring the sun radiation outside of the Earth atmosphere over a large electromagnetic spectrum and correlating with parallel observations with other space missions and on ground helps provide the accurate data required to support predictive models and anticipate on the influence of sun radiation on our environment.
Earth ApplicationsThe awareness of the environment of the Earth and of the sun radiation level and spectrum is of importance to both Earth-based and space-borne systems as well as to advanced studies on climate. Monitoring the sun radiation outside of the Earth atmosphere over a large electromagnetic spectrum and correlating with parallel observations with other space missions and on ground helps provide the accurate data required to support predictive models and anticipate on the influence of sun radiation on our environment.
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Operational ProtocolsInformation Pending
Beginning in April 2008, SOLACES recorded the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance during the extended solar activity minimum, which reached the point of lowest EUV intensity in mid September 2009, from the Columbus External Platform Facility of the ISS. SOLACES has since been observing the EUV irradiance during the increasing solar activity. The comparison of spectra at different solar activity levels shows that, at lowest activity, the EUV irradiance is always the lowest, too. In general, the differences between the EUV intensity observed at the solar minimum and local solar maximum are much higher for wavelengths shorter than 40 nm than for wavelengths longer than 40 nm, with the largest EUV intensity differences noted in the iron (Fe) spectral lines.
The data from SOLACES will be used to investigate the impact of the solar irradiance variability on the Earth?s climate as well as improve understanding of the interaction between the thermosphere and ionosphere (Nikutowski et al. 2011).
Nikutowski B, Brunner R, Erhardt C, Knecht S, Schmidtke G. Distinct EUV minimum of the solar irradiance (16-40 nm) observed by SolACES spectrometers onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in August/September 2009. Advances in Space Research. 2011; 48(5): 899-903. DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2011.05.002.