NASA said that the 2 United States spacecraft launched in 2006 had arrived nearly at the point of the Sun to set up observing positions about our star and transmit significant new information directly between them.
The 2 Stereo satellite crafts have been moving gradually drifting apart, one is lagging behind and the other one is in the orbit ahead of the Earth to give information to the solar physicists and a full 360 degree view of the Earth.
Stereo satellite craft is short for “Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory” which mission is to study the behavior of the Sun and its great explosive events that possible hurl billions of m(–foul word(s) removed–) of charged particles to the Earth that can possibly interrupt satellites and power grids.
These “Coronal M(–foul word(s) removed–) Ejections” (CMEs), in the space as we know it, can be also dangerous to astronauts.
“The coronal m(–foul word(s) removed–) ejections coming our way thrown out from the Sun can be seen from a distance between the Earth and the Sun by being away from the line of Earth-Sun looking back at the space, observing things p(–foul word(s) removed–)ing over the Earth is the key to what Stereo Satellite is all about” said Prof. Richard Harrison STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK, project investigator.
The 2 Stereo satellite crafts are moving continuously apart from each other on the opposite direction of the Sun from the Earth; meaning that the two crafts will fade, leaving a growing region from the Sun-on the Earth side that they do not see. However, a year ago, the ‘Solar Dynamics Observatory’ launched in the Earth remain fixed on the Sun to provide information of the missing piece in the puzzle.
Achieving information and the all-around-view of the sun will be a good basis to understanding the difficult process in the behavior of the Sun, believes Prof. Harrison.
“It is very difficult to study in details about the behavior of the Sun by just looking at a bit of it, to understand it more, a comprehensive study and observation by looking the equator of the Earth’s Polar Region is very indispensable to detail together the jigsaw puzzle.”
Looking of the Sun’s atmosphere connected magnetically in a wide separated region at the same time viewing activity of the Sun transmitted by the Stereo Satellites is a great help for study, he explained.
It is believed of the scientists that the activity of eruptions on opposite sides of the Sun occurs by chance triggering and feeding off one another. With the help of Stereo craft this phenomenon can be studied now in every different new position.
Stereo craft has been used to improve “space weather” forecast for satellite operators, power companies, airlines and other customers.