Ulysses
ESA TV Exchanges
An exceptionally long and successful space science mission comes to an end in a few weeks. The joint ESA-NASA deep space probe Ulysses will be switched off after more than 17 years observing our Sun and its environment. The spacecraft was built in the early 80s and after launch by the Shuttle Discovery in October 1990, left the ecliptic plane to reach an orbit allowing it to pass several times over the Sun's North and South poles. Its science instruments have provided important new data on the Sun's magnetic field, its solar winds and heliosphere. But now the spacecraft's power is unsufficient to pursue the mission. This A & B-Roll features the main Ulysses findings explained by ESA Project scientist and Mission manager, Richard Marsden.
For more info on this subject please check the script that is online as a PDF file under :http://television.esa.int/photos/EbS57484.pdf
A WMV preview clip is online under :http://esa.contentcoders.com/mphi/Ulysses_TV_10-06-08_wmphigh.wmv
The same

The Ulysses legacy
Start tape 00:00:00
Start A-Roll 00:01:00
00:01:40 All space science missions increase our understanding of the Universe but some become legendary. Because of their scientific discoveries and because of the huge challenges they overcome. Ulysses, the joint ESA-NASA probe is such an adventurer, after more than 17 years observing our Sun and its environment.
00:02:02 The relatively small, 370 kg spacecraft carrying ten science instruments was lofted by the Shuttle Discovery in October 1990, first stage of a long journey where no other space probe had ventured ñ and none has gone since!
00:02:21 15 months after launch, Ulysses used Jupiter as a springboard to leave the ecliptic plane and swoop back below the Sun to observe its South Pole in 1994 and then its North Pole a year later. But it was not plain sailing: the spacecraft controllers had to devise imaginative ways to prevent Ulysses from wobbling.
00:02:46 Soundbyte Richard Marsden Ulysses Project sc