China is set to launch the first satellite to directly image the Sun’s poles, a historic mission promising new insights into solar activity, space weather, and the Sun-Earth connection.
October 14, 2025
Source:
http://Spaceweather.com
Mission Overview
The Solar Polar-orbit Observatory (SPO), developed by the China National Space Administration, is set to launch in 2029. It marks a milestone in solar science by offering the world’s first direct images of the Sun’s north and south poles. The NASA/ESA Solar Orbiter (March 2025) provided a partial view of the south pole (ESA), but no prior mission has achieved a true polar orbit with imaging capabilities.
Why the Poles Matter
Solar Dynamics: The poles shape magnetic activity and influence the 11-year solar cycle.
Space Weather: Polar processes drive space weather, impacting satellites, astronauts, and power grids on Earth.
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Source:
ScienceDaily
How SPO Will Explore the Sun
Trajectory and Technology
The SPO will use gravity assists from Earth and Jupiter. This complex maneuver will eject the craft from the flat plane of the solar system into a high-inclination orbit, passing directly over the Sun’s poles (Wikipedia).
Key Instruments
Ultraviolet and X-ray Telescopes: Designed for high-resolution images of polar regions.
Coronagraphs: Study the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
Radio Spectrometer: Records solar radio emissions.
Ion Analyzers and Magnetometer: Take in-situ measurements of particles and magnetic fields.
Significance: SPO will produce the first detailed "cloud map" of interplanetary space near the poles, offering critical new data for heliophysics (arXiv).
Read More
Source:
The Sun Today
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