The Solar Dynamics Observatory After Almost Three Years in Geostationary Orbit

The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has returned science data for 2.6 years since its launch into a geostationary orbit. SDO is unique in NASA science missions in our use of a dedicated ground station that provides a 24/7 science data downlink. This continuous downlink uses the science team SOCs as the data archive and allows rapid access to the near-realtime data stream for space weather purposes. But this also means we have to run the ground station. The instruments on SDO are measuring the information needed to follow the growth and decay of the solar magnetic field. Since beginning operations watched Solar Cycle 24 grow to a below average sunspot number, with spectacular prominence eruptions and a few large flares. But we have also studied the effects of wind gusts on 18 m antennas, the wide swings in temperature in southern New Mexico, and the realities of dealing with a data system that grows by over a petabyte each year. This talk will describe some of the successes of the SDO team while also highlighting the issues that come from running a large science observatory in geostationary orbit.