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Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) | High Altitude Observatory
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class="layout__region layout__region--main main-content-wrapper"> <h1>Solar Maximum Mission (SMM)</h1> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodebasic-pagefield-main-content"> <div class="field field--name-field-main-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--rich-text paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><figure class="align-left media media--type-image media--view-mode-default figure mb-1 mb-md-4"> <p> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/extra_large/public/2021-12/s81-38650.jpg?itok=xVX42hDG" width="926" height="695" alt="Artist's rendering of SMM in orbit" class="image-style-extra-large img-fluid"></p> <figcaption class="figure-caption pb-1"> <p>Artist's rendering of SMM in orbit.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="clearfix">The Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) observatory was launched by a Delta rocket on February 14, 1980, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. SMM's payload consisted of eight instruments that provided broad spectral coverage of radiation produced by solar flares. Among SMM's primary science objectives was the study of the dynamics of solar flares and the study of solar magnetic fields associated with the flare phenomenon.</p> <figure class="align-right media media--type-image media--view-mode-default figure mb-1 mb-md-4"> <p> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/extra_large/public/2021-12/smm.delta_.launch.jpg?itok=-sJNoQ63" width="926" height="1158" alt="The April 6, 1984 launch of SMM" class="image-style-extra-large img-fluid"></p> <figcaption class="figure-caption pb-1"> <p>The April 6, 1984 launch of SMM.</p> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="clearfix">The High Altitude Observatory (HAO) provided a <a href="/mlso/solar-maximum-mission/smm-coronagraph-polarimeter">white-light coronagraph/polarimeter (C/P)</a> to study the relationship of the corona to the flare process. This instrument obtained coronal images from March through September of 1980 before suffering an electronics failure that rendered it inoperative. A few weeks later, a power failure occurred in the Attitude Control System (ACS) of the SMM spacecraft; consequently, stable pointing of the spacecraft was no longer possible, and the entire spacecraft was put into a dormant ("standby") mode. The SMM spacecraft remained in this state for more than 3 years. The Challenger Space Shuttle ( STS-41C ) was launched on 6 April 1984 to attempt an in-orbit repair of SMM. That mission was successful in replacing both the spacecraft Attitude Control System and the coronagraph's Main Electronics Box.</p> <p>Atmospheric friction slowly caused the altitude of the SMM spacecraft's orbit to decline. Consequently, the SMM satellite lost attitude control on November 17, 1989, when the spacecraft re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Re-entry occurred on 2 December 1989 over the Indian Ocean. The coronagraph generated ~240,000 images of the solar corona before its fiery demise.</p> <h2>ADDITIONAL SMM SITES</h2> <ul> <li><a href="http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/smm/">Official NASA SMM pages</a></li> <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-41-C">Information about the Space Shuttle SMM repair mission</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="block block-layout-builder block-extra-field-blocknodebasic-pagelinks"> </div> </main> <aside class="layout__region layout__region--sidebar-top sidebar-nav mb-md-4"> <aside class="block block-contextual-menu-block sidebar-nav"> <div class="d-flex justify-content-between" id="sidebarHeader"> <h2 class="px-2 px-md-3 py-md-2 text-white"> <span class="is-active text-white">Solar Maximum Mission</span> </h2> <button class="btn text-white collapsed px-2 d-md-none" href="#sidebarMenu" id="sidebarCollapseButton" aria-label="Content Types" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#sidebarMenu" role="button" 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