Mission operations


		Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy
Solar System Solar wind - Heliosphere Magnetosphere Planetary atmospheres Radiation belts Comets, Asteroids, Meteors and Dust Earth System Ionosphere Atmospheric chemistry Atmosphere & biosphere Electromagnetic radiation Global Change Atmospheric change International protocols Air quality Aerosols and climate Natural hazards Chemical weather Ozone Aerosols & volcanic ash warning UV at the surface Space weather Space missions Mission scenarios Instrument design and technology Mission operations Data management
	Mission operations Solar observatory Within the general framework of the Columbus mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), BUSOC has, since the launch, been the Facility Responsible Centre (ESA/FRC) for the solar observatory installed on an external pallet of the Columbus module. Three instruments make up the solar observatory (SOLAR) payload. These three complementary instruments, SOVIM, SOLSPEC and SOLACES, measure with a remarkable degree of accuracy the spectral energy irradiance of the Sun, over virtually the entire spectrum. (Image credits ESA - NASA) PICARD Scientific Mission Centre In this period of climate change, Picard joins forces with other missions to help clarify the links between the solar cycle and changes in terrestrial temperatures. In order to better understand the future influence of the Sun on the Earth, Picard is also looking to the past, particularly by studying the links between changes in solar activity and certain climatic events. Ground control of the in-orbit operations of PICARD is provided by the PICARD Scientific Mission Centre (CMS-P) situated at B.USOC in the facilities of BIRA-IASB.