In the early 1960’s the first space-borne instruments from one of
the pioneering groups that ultimately became RAL Space, were
launched aboard suborbital rockets. These were instruments
sent into space to study the nature of the Sun using unique
ultraviolet techniques. Some 57 years later, we are poised to
launch Solar Orbiter – an ESA mission carrying a novel RAL
Space-led spectrometer called SPICE, whose heritage can be
traced directly back to those original rocket flight instruments.
I came to RAL Space in 1986 and find it incredible to believe
that my 33 years here (so far) spans well over half of the time
back to those original flights. When I joined, we were heavily
involved in the leadership of an instrument aboard the first
major truly international mission to study the Sun, the NASA
Solar Maximum Mission (launched 1980).
In the subsequent 30 years there were 11 major solar missions.
Four of these carried instruments led by RAL Space; nine carried
instruments that included RAL Space hardware. Our record
became second to none and this strength played a huge
role in putting the UK solar research community in a world
leading position.
One of my highlights was the launch of the ESA/NASA Solar
and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) in 1995, carrying the RAL
Space-led Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) – a solar
extreme-UV spectrometer designed to provide detailed
diagnostics of the Sun’s super-hot atmosphere. CDS was
a remarkable success and a credit to the engineering and
operations teams. In its 20 years of operation almost 1000
professional research papers were published around the world
from this mission. The scientific impact of SOHO has provided a
wonderful benchmark in our understanding of the Sun.
Nevertheless, there are gaps in our knowledge. Since the
beginning of the human race, our view of the Sun has always
been from on, or near the Earth. With the launch of the NASA
twin STEREO spacecraft in 2006, carrying the RAL Space-led
Heliospheric Imagers, we had two spacecraft orbiting the Sun,
rather than the Earth. These Imagers look back at the Sun and
Earth and actually image the coronal mass ejections as they
travel through the solar system.
So, to bring us up to date, Solar Orbiter is about to fill two other
outstanding gaps in our knowledge. First, it will fly closer to
the Sun than Mercury - just close enough to enable a carefully
shielded spacecraft to take close-up views of the Sun and
study the environment around the spacecraft so close to a
star. Second, it will climb out of the so-called ecliptic plane,
enabling unprecedented views of the polar regions of the
Sun. Imagine the potential for new science by taking a first
glance at the solar poles. The mission was first conceived in the
late 1990s with RAL Space playing a leading role in the proposal
and early development. It is extremely satisfying to see the
mission come to fruition. The RAL Space-led SPICE instrument
takes the concepts of the earlier SOHO instrumentation to
new levels.
I have only mentioned some of the exciting missions that we
have been involved with. Through an active programme of
mission conception, acquisition, development and operation,
RAL Space has been at the forefront of studies of the Sun for
decades including, now, the emerging field of space weather,
and has provided space-based facilities for the UK’s worldleading research community.
Professor Richard A Harrison
MBE
RAL Space Chief Scientist
Principal Investigator ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
(CDS instrument – 1992 to 2004)
Principal Investigator –
NASA STEREO (HI instruments – 2002 to date)
