SDO | Mission

SDO Project Specifications

This section provides details about the SDO spacecraft, when it will be launched, and SDO's planned orbit. Please note that details in the design will change as the mission matures.

The science of the Solar Dynamics Observatory will be performed on a spacecraft that allows both nearly continuous observations of the Sun and a science data downlink rate over of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps). These two requirements determined the orbit and spacecraft design as well as the definition of the SDO Mission.

Satellite

  • 3-Axis stabilized & robust spacecraft.
  • Launch mass of 3100 kg (weight of 6800 lbs); 270 kg payload, 1400 kg fuel.
  • Spacecraft is 2.2 x 2.2 x 4.5 m, solar panels are 6.5 m across when extended.
  • Solar panels cover an area of 6.6 m², producing 1450 W of power. The homeplate shape prevents the solar panel from blocking the high-gain antennas.
  • Science data is sent to the ground at a rate of ~130 Mbps on a continuous, high rate data stream at a Ka-Band frequency of ~26 GHz.

Launch

  • SDO will be ready on February 11, 2010, 10:23 am EST for a launch on an Atlas V from SLC 41 at Cape Canaveral.
  • The observatory will be delivered into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) by the Atlas V. SDO's propulsion system will then perform a circularization maneuver to boost the spacecraft into geosynchronous orbit (GEO).
  • SDO's main engine is a bi-propellant system using monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) fuel and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) oxidizer. Thrusters using the same fuel and oxidizer mix will keep SDO in the correct orbit during the mission.

Orbit

  • The rapid cadence and continuous coverage required for SDO observations led to placing the satellite into an inclined geosynchronous orbit. This allows for a nearly-continuous, high-data-rate, contact with a single, dedicated, ground station.
  • Nearly continuous observations of the Sun can be obtained from other orbits, such as low Earth orbit (LEO). If SDO were placed into an LEO it would be necessary to store large volumes of scientific data onboard until a downlink opportunity. The large data rate of SDO, along with the difficulties in managing a large on-board storage system, resulted in a requirement of continuous contact.
  • The disadvantges of this orbit include higher launch and orbit acquisition costs (relative to LEO) and eclipse (Earth shadow) seasons twice annually, During these 2-3 week eclipse periods, SDO will experience a daily interruption of solar observations. There will also be three lunar shadow events each year from this orbit.
  • This orbit is located on the outer reaches of the Earth's radiation belt where the radiation dose can be quite high. Additional shielding was added to the instruments and electronics to reduce the problems caused by exposure to radiation. Because this a a Space Weather effect, SDO is affected by the very processes it is designed to study!

Project Milestones

SDO has been on station for over nine years, observing the Sun almost 24 hours a day each day. Over 350 million images are in the SDO data archives and 3000 research papers have appeared describing the science of SDO.

October 1, 2017
Began Second Extended Mission
October 1, 2015
Began First Extended Mission
September 1, 2015
Achieved Full Mission success!
July 1, 2012
Achieved Minimum Mission success
May 1, 2010
Transition to Phase E
April 21, 1010
First Light Press Conference, Newseum, Washington, DC
February 11, 2010, 10:23 am EST
Launch of SDO

The SDO observatory was launched on February 11, 2010, 10:23 am EST. SDO is now in the "Launch and Early Operations" phase of mission development, during which the instruments and spacecraft are turned on and tested on orbit. At the same time, ground system is used to control the spacecraft and accept the data from the instruments and subsystems. Once the spacecraft and instruments are commissioned SDO will begin its observing of the Sun. This prime observing phase of SDO is planned to last five years - almost half a solar cycle - with the possibility of a 5-year extension.

July 21-22, 2009
Flight Operations Readiness Review
June 4, 2009
Pre-ship Review II
January 21-22, 2009
Pre-ship Review I
December 18, 2009
SDO passes its Mission Readiness Briefing at NASA HQ
July 29-August 16, 2008
SDO passed the Thermal Vacuum Test in the SES chamber
July 16-25, 2008
SDO passed the Thermal Balance Test in the SES chamber
May 25-June 2, 2008
SDO passed the Vibration and Acoustic tests in Building 10 at Goddard
April 13-20, 2008
SDO passed the EMI/EMC Tests in Building 7 at Goddard
January 5, 2008
Instrument installed on spacecraft bus, SDO becomes an observatory!
November 30, 2007
AIA instrument arrived
November 14, 2007
HMI instrument arrived
October 27, 2007
Propulsion module placed inside spacecraft bus.
September 25, 2007
EVE instrument arrived
April 5-7, 2005
Passed Critical Design Review (CDR) at GSFC
June 1, 2004
SDO/LWS Confirmation Review at NASA HQ, Transition to Phase C
March 22-26, 2004
First SDO Science Workshop in Boulder, CO
March 9-12, 2004
Preliminary Design Review
September 3, 2003
Initial Confirmation Review at NASA HQ (SDO Project), transition to Phase B
April 8-11, 2003
Systems Concept Review (SDO Project with instrument team participation) in Greenbelt, MD
December 3-5, 2002
SDO Project Mission Definition Retreat (GSFC project and instrument teams) NASA GSFC
November 13-15, 2002
2nd LWS Community Workshop at JHUAPL
March 7, 2002
SDO Science Kick-off Meeting
January 18, 2002
SDO Announcement of Opportunity Released: AO-02-OSS-01
July 2001
SDO Science Definition Team Report Released
April 24, 2001
SDO Announcement of Opportunity Proposals Due
November 2000 - July 2001
SDO Definition Team Activities
July 2000
LWS Preformulation Study Released
May 10-12, 2000
1st LWS Community Workshop at GSFC

Prelaunch Project Organization Chart

SDO Project Organization Chart