Story perspectives

SOHO Celebrates 30 Years of Solar Discoveries and Resilience

12/8/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been a vital solar science asset for three decades.
Original plans targeted a two-year mission for SOHO, but the observatory has provided crucial data on solar activity and space weather.
SOHO has discovered over 5,000 comets, expanding knowledge of the early solar system.
Despite a critical fault that nearly ended its mission, resilience and international collaboration keep SOHO operating on its 30th anniversary.

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Story summary

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been a vital solar science asset for three decades.
Original plans targeted a two-year mission for SOHO, but the observatory has provided crucial data on solar activity and space weather.
SOHO has discovered over 5,000 comets, expanding knowledge of the early solar system.
Despite a critical fault that nearly ended its mission, resilience and international collaboration keep SOHO operating on its 30th anniversary.