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ESA\u2019s Solar Orbiter spacecraft has sent back its first images of the Sun. At 77 million kilometres from the surface, this is the closest a camera has ever flown to our nearest star. The pictures reveal features on the Sun\u2019s exterior that have never been seen in detail before.<\/p>\n
Launched on 10 February 2020, the spacecraft completed its commissioning phase and first close-approach to the Sun in mid-June. Since then, science teams have been processing and examining this early data.<\/p>\n
The spacecraft is currently in its cruise phase, on its way to Venus, but will eventually get even closer to the Sun.<\/p>\n
The Solar\u00a0Orbiter mission is an international collaboration between ESA and NASA.<\/p>\n
A-roll contains new video processed from Solar Orbiter images. It also contains new (HD) interviews with Daniel M\u00fcller, ESA Solar Project Scientist, and ESA Instrument Operations Scientist Anik De Groof.<\/p>\n
B-roll contains additional video and interview material, including soundbites in German and Dutch.<\/p>\n