Solar Dynamics Observatory
NASA mission observing the Sun since 2010.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is a NASA mission launched on 11 February 2010, as part of the Living With a Star (LWS) program. It has been observing the Sun to understand the influence of the Sun on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the solar atmosphere on small scales of space and time and in many wavelengths simultaneously.
Quick Facts
- Names List
- SDO
- Mission Type
- Solar research
- Operator
- NASA GSFC
- Cospar Id
- 2010-005A
- Satcat
- 36395
- Spacecraft Type
- Solar Dynamics Observatory
- Manufacturer
- Goddard Space Flight Center
- Dry Mass
- 1700 kg
- Launch Mass
- 3100 kg
- Payload Mass
- 290 kg
- Launch Date
- 11 February 2010, 15:23:00 UTC
- Launch Rocket
- Atlas V 401
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The SDO spacecraft was developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V-401 rocket. After launch, it underwent orbit-raising maneuvers to reach its final geosynchronous orbit. The spacecraft is three-axis stabilized, with two solar arrays and two high-gain antennas. Its three instruments are the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE), the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA).
HMI, led from Stanford University, studies solar variability and characterizes the Sun's interior and magnetic activity by taking high-resolution measurements of the longitudinal and vector magnetic field. EVE, built by the University of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, measures the Sun's extreme ultraviolet irradiance with improved spectral resolution and temporal cadence. AIA, led from the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, provides continuous full-disk observations of the solar chromosphere and corona in seven extreme ultraviolet channels.
SDO's mission mascot is Camilla Corona, a rubber chicken used for education and public outreach.
Reader's Guide
The Solar Dynamics Observatory represents a significant advancement in solar physics, providing continuous, high-resolution observations of the Sun across multiple wavelengths. Its data, made available as soon as possible after reception, have enabled scientists to study the generation and structure of the Sun's magnetic field, the conversion and release of magnetic energy into the heliosphere and geospace, and variations in solar irradiance. The mission's three instruments—EVE, HMI, and AIA—offer unprecedented spectral resolution, temporal cadence, and image quality, improving on earlier missions like SOHO. SDO's geosynchronous orbit allows near-continuous communication with its dedicated ground station at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, and minimizes solar eclipses. The mission's extended operations, expected to continue until 2030, and the development of AI models based on its data underscore its lasting importance for understanding space weather and its impacts on Earth's atmosphere, satellite operations, and communications systems.
Did You Know?
- SDO was launched on 11 February 2010 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using an Atlas V-401 rocket.
- The spacecraft generates approximately 1.5 Terabytes of data per day, equivalent to downloading around 500,000 songs.
- Moments after launch, SDO's Atlas V rocket created visible shock waves in a cirrus cloud, destroying the alignment of ice crystals forming a sun dog.
- The mission mascot is a rubber chicken named Camilla Corona, used for education and public outreach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Solar Dynamics Observatory?
SDO is a NASA solar observatory launched on 11 February 2010 as part of the Living With a Star program. It has been continuously watching the Sun from a geosynchronous orbit at roughly 35,789 km altitude ever since.
What are Solar Dynamics Observatory's powers/role?
SDO carries three core instruments—EVE, HMI, and AIA—that capture the solar atmosphere across many wavelengths simultaneously to track small-scale changes in both space and time. Together they generate about 1.5 terabytes of data per day, streaming at roughly 130 Mbit/s back to Earth.
Why is Solar Dynamics Observatory important?
SDO provides a continuous, multi-wavelength view of how solar activity ripples outward to shape Earth's upper atmosphere and the near-Earth space environment. Without it, our ability to forecast space weather and understand the Sun's influence on the planet would be far more limited.
Where does Solar Dynamics Observatory operate?
SDO holds a geosynchronous orbit at 35,789 km altitude, fixed at 102° West longitude with a 28.5° inclination. This stable vantage point lets it stare at the Sun around the clock without the interruptions a lower orbit would cause.
More in Missions to the Sun 1-21
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