Vigil - миссия ESA по наблюдению за Солнцем

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Vigil - миссия ESA по наблюдению за Солнцем

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https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Space_weather/Introducing_ESA_Vigil_Earth_s_devoted_solar_defender

Introducing ESA Vigil: Earth's devoted solar defender
10/02/2022
ESA / Safety & Security / Space weather
In brief
It's the first mission of its kind, set to monitor our active and unpredictable Sun and help protect us from its violent outbursts – and it has a new name.

In-depth
Once known as "Lagrange," ESA's upcoming space weather mission needed a new name that would reflect its vital role: helping to protect Earth's infrastructure, satellites, inhabitants and space explorers from unpredictable but violent solar events like solar flares and 'coronal mass ejections'.
With 5422 submissions from across Europe and indeed around the world – and after weeks of deliberation, countless spreadsheets, three diverse and expert judges and a lively debate – a new name has been selected for our upcoming space weather mission: ESA Vigil.

ESA Vigil
Spacecraft monitoring the Sun
Thousands of thoughtful, clever and funny names were submitted in the Agency's #NameTheMission mission contest, which ran from May to September 2021.
Once submissions closed, a team from ESA's Communication department and Space Weather Office reviewed all submissions putting a shortlist of just nine names before a panel of invited, external judges.
Armed with their top three respective choices, the judges then took part in a lively, two-hour video chat in which they made the case for their favourite and deliberated the merits of each. Finally, they agreed on a winner.

"We are thrilled with our mission's new name," explains Juha-Pekka Luntama, ESA's Head of Space Weather.
"When I first heard it, I thought it was just spot on. That is exactly what we do, we keep a vigilant watch and guard Earth".
In Latin, 'vigilis exceptus' means sentry, or guard, while 'vigilia' means wakefulness and the act of keeping a devoted watch. The judges were particularly impressed with how the name resonated with the mission's role – as a devoted guardian, keeping constant watch over the Sun, for Earth.

The patch
ESA Vigil mission patch
Almost immediately, ESA's design team began working on a patch that would evoke Vigil's meaning. Throughout various iterations, the symbol of a soaring, watchful bird remained.
Emmet Fletcher, Head of ESA's Branding and Partnership Office explained the rationale behind the patch.
"In this stunning design, the team has depicted a stylised wing of protection which shelters Earth from the Sun's hazardous radiation. The wing emanates from Vigil's orbital position and the critical geometry of this Lagrange point relative to the Earth and Sun is traced out. To balance out the mission patch, the L5 point is emphasised with the five stars shown just above the blue Earth."
And it's the position of the wing, originating from the side of the Sun-Earth system, which really pleased the mission team.
"We really like the patch design and how it still incorporates the vital importance of geometry to this mission," explains Giuseppe Mandorlo, Mission Manager for ESA Vigil.
"The Vigil mission will get a sneak peek of potentially hazardous solar activity only because of its location in space. Trailing 'behind' Earth at the fifth Lagrange point, ESA's Vigil will see the side of the Sun, observing conditions before they rotate around to face our home."
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc50DEr_GfU

3:23
Introducing: ESA Vigil
  European Space Agency, ESA
It's the first mission of its kind, set to monitor our active and unpredictable Sun and help protect us from its violent outbursts – and it has a new name.

Спойлер

Once known as "Lagrange," ESA's upcoming space weather mission needed a new name that would reflect its vital role: helping to protect Earth's infrastructure, satellites, inhabitants and space explorers from unpredictable but violent solar events like solar flares and 'coronal mass ejections'.

During the Name The Mission campaign, 5422 entries were submitted from across Europe and indeed around the world – and after weeks of deliberation, countless spreadsheets, three diverse and expert judges and a lively debate – a new name has been selected for our upcoming space weather mission: ESA Vigil.

"We are thrilled with our mission's new name," explains Juha-Pekka Luntama, ESA's Head of Space Weather.

"When I first heard it, I thought it was just spot on. That is exactly what we do, we keep a vigilant watch and guard Earth".

In Latin, 'vigilis exceptus' means sentry, or guard, while 'vigilia' means wakefulness and the act of keeping a devoted watch, which resonates with the mission's role – a devoted guardian, keeping constant watch over the Sun, for Earth.

Protecting modern life, and life itself

Solar storms can damage power grids, disrupt telecommunications and threaten satellites and the vital services they provide. At the same time, as we launch ever-more satellites into orbit we are creating increasing amounts of debris - dramatically increasing the risks of collision for current and future missions.

These satellites have changed our lives and enlarged our perspective on Earth, but they – and the technologies they make possible on which modernity relies - are vulnerable.

The protection of space assets is at the heart of ESA's Vision for the future. To do this, the new Protect 'accelerator' proposes the development of 'air traffic control for space', as well as an early warning system to help us prepare for hazardous solar activity.

Learn more about Vigil here: https://www.esa.int/Safety_Security/E...

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