19.12.2011
Figure 1: Solar Orbiter (© ESA)
In early October, the European Space Agency ESA decided – within the scope of its Cosmic-Vision plan – to launch the 
Solar Orbiter mission into space in 2017. PTB will contribute to the characterisation of two instruments this spacecraft has on board – the spectrograph SPICE (Spectral Imaging of the Coronal Environment) for wavelengths between 48 nm and 105 nm, and the EUI (Extreme Ultraviolet Imager) for wavelengths between 17 nm and 122 nm. In the spectral range of the vacuum and the extreme ultraviolet, synchrotron radiation of the Metrology Light Source (MLS) as well as of BESSY II will be used. Already in 2011, measurements were carried out to develop optical components (mirrors, filters) as well as imaging semiconductor detectors for this purpose. An extension of the respective cooperations with the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) is scheduled for 2012. To characterise the complete EUI module (starting in 2013) with calculable synchrotron radiation at the MLS, a large vacuum tank is currently being procured which will accommodate the flight module for its radiometric characterisation.
Contact:
A. Gottwald, 7.13, e-mail: 
Alexander.Gottwald@ptb.de