China to launch its first solar exploration satellite this year

The satellite design provides for a separation of the platform compartment and the payload compartment, which provides ultra-high guidance accuracy and payload stability.

China plans to launch its first satellite to explore the Sun this year, and a model of the new device is on display at the 13th China International Aerospace Exhibition, which is taking place these days.

It is noted that with the launch of the satellite, China will enter a new era of solar exploration.

The satellite's primary payload will be a solar imaging H-alpha spectrometer, which will capture H-alpha images of the sun. This will help researchers observe changes in the Sun during flares, such as changes in its atmospheric temperature and speed.

The satellite design provides for a separation of the platform compartment and the payload compartment, which provides ultra-high guidance accuracy and payload stability.

China has established a ground-based network for observing the Sun and has made strides in areas such as the solar spectrum and solar magnetic fields, but it has yet to begin exploring the Sun from space.

Experts hope that this will enable China to advance fundamental research on the sun, give impetus to the development of relevant high-tech industries, and contribute to international heliophysical research.

On September 24, SAST launched a name campaign for the solar satellite. It will be announced after the successful launch of the device into space.