Space Systems Science
SOLAR-B
Client  ISAS
Launch date  September 23, 2006
Launch vehicle  M-V
Launch site  Kagoshima Space Center
Orbit  Altitude: 600 km,
 Sun-synchronous polar orbit
Weight  900 kg
Electrical power  1,000 W
Design life  Minimum 2 years
Responsibilities  Prime contractor
Outline
The mission of SOLAR-B is the elucidation of such issues as: the composition of the outer surface of the sun (corona and chromosphere); the magnetic microstructure of the surface of the sun's photosphere, and dynamics and coupling with the sun's corona; and elementary processes of magnetic reconnection. In order to accomplish this mission, SOLAR-B is a solar-orbit observation platform consisting of three observation systems: a visible light/magnetic field telescope, an X-ray telescope, and an extreme ultra violet (EUV) spectrum imaging system. The satellite is equipped for high-resolution, comprehensive observation of magnetism, temperature, and plasma flow in the range of the 6,000 oC surface of the photosphere, to the several tens of thousands of degrees of the corona.