Solar Orbiter perihelia and flybys

12 MAY. 2022 9166

A summary of Solar Orbiter close approaches to the Sun (perihelia) and gravity assist flybys.

Perihelia

Date	Distance from the Sun (AU)
15 Jun 2020	0.52
10 Feb 2021	0.49
12 Sep 2021	0.59
26 Mar 2022	0.32
12 Oct 2022	0.29
10 Apr 2023	0.29
07 Oct 2023	0.29
04 Apr 2024	0.29
30 Sep 2024	0.29
31 Mar 2025	0.29
16 Sep 2025	0.29
03 Mar 2026	0.29
18 Aug 2026	0.29
06 Feb 2027	0.28
06 Jul 2027	0.28
03 Dec 2027	0.28
07 May 2028	0.33
04 Oct 2028	0.33
03 Mar 2029	0.33
11 Aug 2029	0.37
08 Jan 2030	0.37
06 Jun 2030	0.37

1 AU = 1 Astronomical Unit, or 150 million km, equivalent to the Earth-Sun separation.

Solar Orbiter Venus flyby

Gravity assists

Earth

27 Nov 2021

Venus

27 Dec 2020

09 Aug 2021

04 Sep 2022

18 Feb 2025

24 Dec 2026

18 Mar 2028

10 Jun 2029

02 Sep 2030

Dates subject to change.

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Increasing inclination

The first gravity assist flybys adjust Solar Orbiter’s trajectory in order to get it into the orbit required for its scientific tasks. Subsequent Venus flybys increase its inclination to see more of the solar poles. The February 2025 Venus encounter will increase the inclination of the spacecraft’s orbit from about 7.7 to around 17 degrees. The 24 December 2026 flyby will increase this still further to 24 degrees, and will mark the start of the ‘high-latitude’ mission. Additional flybys will boost the inclination to 33 degrees, giving even more direct views of the solar poles.

Follow Solar Orbiter's journey with our "Where is Solar Orbiter?" tool.

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