The TRACE Mission
Abstract
The TRACE (Transition Region and Coronal Explorer) mission will explore the connections between fine-scale magnetic fields and plasma structures in the coronal, transition zone and temperature minimum regions of the sun. TRACE will collect images of solar plasmas at temperatures from 10(4) to 10(7) K, with one arc second spatial resolution and excellent temporal resolution and continuity. With a scheduled launch date of 15 December 1997, the mission will emphasize collaborative observations with SoHO, enabling simultaneous observations of high-resolution images, spectra, and magnetograms. The 30 cm aperture TRACE telescope uses four normal-incidence coatings for the EUV and UV on quadrants of the primary and secondary mirrors. Interference filters further isolate 5 different UV bands. The images are co-aligned and internally stabilized against spacecraft jitter. A 1024 x 1024 lumigen-coated CCD detector collects images over an 8.5 x 8.5 arc minute field-of-view. LMATC, SAO, and GSFC built the TRACE instrument, which was integrated with the GSFC-produced SMEX spacecraft on 28 February (just over two years from the start of its development). It will be put into a Sun-synchronous orbit and operated in coordination with the SoHO Experiment Operations Facility at GSFC. We are committed to maintaining a publicly accessible data base for TRACE data. Browsing and data set requesting capabilities will be provided at Web site www.space.lockheed.com/TRACE/TRACElinks.html. This site already contains a large volume of information on the mission including preliminary scientific observing programs and directions as to how to participate in the mission now and in the future. This project is supported by NASA contract NAS5-38099.
- Publication:
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AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting #28
- Pub Date:
- May 1997
- Bibcode:
- 1997SPD....28.0143W