2020 was a year marked by unprecedented challenges, but it also witnessed remarkable achievements that inspired hope and resilience worldwide. One such milestone was the launch of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter on February 10, 2020.
The Solar Orbiter is a groundbreaking sun-observing satellite designed to orbit the sun for the next decade. Its mission is to capture detailed images of the sun's uncharted polar regions, providing scientists with invaluable data to better understand our closest star.
Christopher Owen, a physics professor at University College London and the principal investigator on the Solar Orbiter Mission Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) Investigation, played a pivotal role in this ambitious project. Alongside Cesar Garcia, the Solar Orbiter project manager at ESA, they navigated unforeseen challenges when the COVID-19 pandemic struck Europe in early March 2020.
The sudden outbreak led to a 10-day shutdown of operations after several team members at the Darmstadt, Germany operational center tested positive for the virus. Determined to keep the mission on schedule, Owen and his team developed innovative communication modes, ensuring that the project continued to progress despite the lockdown.
For Garcia and his colleagues, witnessing the Solar Orbiter's successful launch, accompanied by the powerful roar of the rocket, was the most inspiring moment of 2020. It stood as a testament to human ingenuity and the unwavering spirit to overcome adversity, embodying the courage, sacrifice, and hope that defined the year.
Reference(s):
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