KuaFu

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

KuaFu ( Chinese  夸父 計劃 , Pinyin Kuāfù Jìhuà ) is a previously planned Chinese space mission to explore the sun and its interaction with the earth . According to the original plans for maximum solar activity in 2012, the mission was to begin with the launch of the first satellite, but the launch has been postponed to 2017 and later indefinitely.

Origin of name

The name of the mission is derived from an ancient Chinese legend. Accordingly, KuaFu tried to catch the sun in order to enter it.

Planned research activities

The mission is to research the sun-earth interaction and improve the prediction of solar flares . The lifespan of the satellites is estimated at three years. The Chinese government expects dozens of scientists from Germany, France, Belgium, Austria and Canada to participate.

At the same time, the mission is intended to raise the standard of "end-to-end" observation of the sun-earth system in order to enable scientists to better understand the fundamental physical processes of space weather . The entire chain of disturbances from the sun's surface to the earth is to be examined. The aim is to observe the coronal mass ejections (CMEs), the interplanetary clouds, the shock waves with their effects on the earth as well as the magnetic storms and the polar lights .

mission

The complete mission consists of three spacecraft: "KuaFu-A", "KuaFu B1" and "KuaFu B2". KuaFu-A is a space probe that will be stationed at Lagrange point L1, similar to the European solar probe SOHO . The instruments for observing solar activity can be continuously active there. KuaFu B1 and B2 are earth satellites that are brought into polar orbits around the earth in order to continuously observe the northern lights of the northern hemisphere from there . The northern lights allow conclusions to be drawn about the effects of the sun on the earth.

operator

The operator of the KuaFu project is Peking University . The German Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research is also involved.

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ China to probe Sun-Earth environment. (No longer available online.) Xinhua, July 20, 2006, archived from the original on February 19, 2016 ; accessed on May 27, 2018 (English).
  2. ↑ China pulls plug on solar observatory . Science . October 31, 2014. Accessed December 27, 2017.
  3. ↑ Hannu Koskinen: EISCAT and Space Situational Awareness. (PDF; 1.1 MB) May 23, 2012, pp. 12–14 , accessed on April 5, 2013 (English).
  4. ↑ KuaFu Mission: The scientific payload of KuaFu-A (English; PDF file; 4 kB)