09 JUN. 2008
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The joint ESA/NASA solar mission Ulysses has forever changed the way scientists view the Sun and its effect on the surrounding space. The mission’s major results and the legacy it leaves behind have been presented at ESA Headquarters in Paris, in view of the impending conclusion of the mission on 1 July 2008.
A modern-day odyssey
After over 17 years of operation, the joint ESA/NASA mission Ulysses will officially conclude on 1 July this year. The spacecraft, which studied the Sun and its effect on the surrounding space for almost four times its expected lifespan, will cease to function because of the decline in power produced by its on-board generators.
Science from inside and outside the heliosphere
During its 17.5 years in space, Ulysses has rewarded scientists with the unprecedented depth and breadth of its results. These have not just been about the Sun and its influence on nearby space. The mission has also provided surprising insights into the nature of our galaxy and even the fate of the Universe.
A 17-year-old over-achiever
If Ulysses had been human, with a life expectancy of 70 years, it would have just celebrated its 245th birthday, thanks to a dedicated ESA/NASA engineering team. In spacecraft years, the mission's life expectancy was five years. This turned into 17.5 years, 3.5 times what was envisaged.
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Ulysses operations
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated, but will be preserved as a record. Click here for the latest information on Ulysses.ROLESolar observatoryLAUNCH DATE6 Oct 1990/STS-41 DiscoveryLAUNCHER/LOCATIONShuttle/Kennedy Space CenterLAUNCH MASS367 kgPERIHELIONAPHELION208.4 million km (1.4 AU)809.5 million km (5.4 AU)ORBIT6.2 year, solar-polar, heliocentricNOMINAL MISSION5 years; final shutdown 30 June 2009 (18 years, 8 months, 24 days)+ First-ever mission to explore space above and belowSun's poles - Longest-ever ESA-operated mission+
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