wiki Word:    STEREO mission

STEREO mission, is also known as Solar TErrestrial Relations Observatory, is the third of the Solar Terrestrial Probes (STP) program from NASA.

STEREO mission was launched in October 2006 and is going to last for two years. It will show a very different view of the Sun/Earth relationship. There are two observatories. One goes ahead of Earth in it's orbit and the other follows behind it. They will show how the energy and matter goes from the Sun to the Earth. It will help us see and understand about developing solar storms in 3-D. It will provide alerts for Earth directed solar ejections.At the largest scale, the Sun's corona (outermost atmosphere) consists of so-called streamers: huge, pointy cones of enhanced density. On a more basic level, everything in the corona is made up of overlapping loops, sometimes with their tops blown indefinitely upward.Comprised of four instruments: an extreme ultraviolet imager, two white-light coronagraphs and a heliospheric imager. These instruments will study the 3-D evolution of CME's from birth at the Sun's surface through the corona and interplanetary medium to its eventual impact at Earth. Principal Investigator: Dr. Russell Howard, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.

Large storms that develop without warning are very dangerous. They can desroy satellites or be very bad for Astronauts. We are studying space and learn from the astronauts findings. By having this mission, the astronauts will be safer. They will accomplish more on their missions without worrying about problems from being surprised by storms that can cause damage.

stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov, www.nasa.gov/stereo,

 http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/instruments/instruments.shtml