Ireland features highly in a new research project which blasts into space on Monday - to study the sun.
The Solar Orbitor mission is a joint collaboration between NASA and the European Space Agency.
It'll travel around the sun at unprecedented shorter distances.
#SolarOrbiter has arrived at pad 41 with @ulalaunch #AtlasV!
Join us for live coverage of @ESASolarOrbiter liftoff from 04:03 GMT (05:03 CET) on Monday morning via https://t.co/psUuNVH9CE#WeAreAllSolarOrbiters pic.twitter.com/iDo7MIsJ4V— ESA (@esa) February 8, 2020
Irish Influence Is Clear
Space commentator Leo Enright says there's been incredible co-operation across borders to make the mission possible:
"Irish industry and Irish scientific researchers are really at the fore of this mission."
"We've got researchers at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies who are deeply involved in instruments that'll image the sun in X-Ray light."
New to #SolarOrbiter? 🤔💭🛰 Here’s a quick look overview of the mission in our new factsheet 👉https://t.co/1iBYUc48mA #WeAreAllSolarOrbiters pic.twitter.com/6UZEVtECSb
— ESA's Solar Orbiter (@ESASolarOrbiter) October 18, 2019
Lift Off From Monday Morning
The craft will be sent on its way in the early hours of Monday morning, from Cape Canaveral to the sun.
As it'll orbit the massive star at a very close radius, which means designers have had to engineer a craft with incredible strength.
Therefore tireless testing took place last summer, scientists examined the craft reacting to magnetism and temperature changes.
Above all the Orbiter has to be able to resist a lot more than any Earth orbit craft ever would.
Solar Storms Could Be Dangerous
Leo Enright says it's absolutely vital that we learn more about solar winds.
In addition, the craft will be taking extreme close up photos of the star.
"We really need to understand how the solar winds are generated."
"The purpose of the solar orbiter is to learn more about the sun."
"I have to say, I'm really excited about the fact that it's carrying cameras, so we're going to get some really amazing pictures."
