Transition

Region

And

Coronal

Explorer

• Observes three-dimensional magnetic structures in the Photosphere

• Defines the geometry and dynamics of the Transition Region and Corona

• Takes images almost simultaneously (less 0.1 second arc)

• Observes in ultra hot temperatures that are extremely hard to investigate

• Is the first U.S. solar research satellite since the Solar Maximum Mission

As outlined by NASA http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace/

• Explore the relation between diffusion of the surface magnetic fields and the changes in heating and structure throughout the Transition Region and Corona.

• Follow the evolution of the magnetic field structures from the solar interior to the corona.

• Investigate the mechanisms of the heating of the outer solar atmosphere.

• Investigate the triggers and onset of solar flares and mass ejections.

• Was designed and built at the Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics lab

• In April 1998, was launched on a Pegasus vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base

• Is in a joint operation with SOHO to study the rising phase of the solar cycle to sunspot maximum

• TRACE produces images rapidly while SoHO does slowly

Cut-Away View Front End

Focal Plane

• Plasma Confinement

• Plasma Heating

• Solar Flares• Can cause magnetic disruptions such as

interfering with satellite connection, cell phone connection, electric power grids, and animals that travel by Earth’s magnetic field

• The Sun is made up of plasma• Plasma is a state of matter that forms when

tremendous amounts of energy cause the bonds that hold atoms together to break apart

• This photograph shows loops which are huge arches of plasma that extend thousands of miles into space

• Loops last weeks and even months• Scientists believe that powerful disturbances on the

Sun’s magnetic field hold may cause these formations

• TRACE is investigating this

• Most of the time the area around something gets hotter as you move closer to the heat source but this is opposite from the Sun

• The temperature increases as you move farther away from the surface of the Sun

• The Sun’s surface is 5,000 degrees Kelvin while 100,000 kilometers into the atmosphere the temperature increases to nearly 2,000,000 degrees Kelvin

• TRACE is collecting data to help explain this

• Is a sudden eruption of energy on the Sun’s surface

• They only last a couple of minutes and don’t change the brightness of the Sun but are very important

• Large flares on the Sun through out sudden bursts of high energy radiation which can disrupt and even damage communication systems on Earth

• TRACE is investigating things that we don’t know about the sun’s magnetic field

• TRACE is extremely close to the sun and takes detailed pictures

• The solar phenomena TRACE studies is odd and unique and disrupts Earth’s connections to space

• TRACE has obtained a lot of new and crucial information that will better enable us to predict solar phenomena.

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/movies/T1550deepNP_20060815_8_9.mov

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/movies/BastilleSlinky.mov

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/movies/TRACE26May2000.mov

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/movies/T171_010322.mov

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/movies/T195_020312_03.mov

• http://trace.lmsal.com/POD/• http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/local_icons/trace_logo.gif• http://daac.ornl.gov/BOREAS/bhs/Images/NASA_logo.gif• http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace/• http://trace.lmsal.com/• http://trace.lmsal.com/Project/Mission/mission.htm• http://trace.lmsal.com/Science/Management/team.htm• http://trace.lmsal.com/Public/magnetic.htm• http://trace.lmsal.com/Public/traceup.htm• http://trace.lmsal.com/Public/eduprodu.htm• http://trace.lmsal.com/Science/ScientificResults/results.htm• http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace/mission/craft.htm• http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace/mission/obj.htm• http://sunland.gsfc.nasa.gov/smex/trace/mission/team.htm