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SOHO Celebrates 30 Years of Solar Discoveries and Innovation

12/3/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) marks its 30th anniversary after the December 2, 1995 launch.
It has provided continuous solar activity data and revolutionized solar science and space weather.
SOHO overcame a critical error shortly after launch.
It has discovered more than 5,000 comets and shapes future missions, including ESA's Solar Orbiter and NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
A U.S. law recognizes its contributions, and its collaboration endures.

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Story summary

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) marks its 30th anniversary after the December 2, 1995 launch.
It has provided continuous solar activity data and revolutionized solar science and space weather.
SOHO overcame a critical error shortly after launch.
It has discovered more than 5,000 comets and shapes future missions, including ESA's Solar Orbiter and NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.
A U.S. law recognizes its contributions, and its collaboration endures.