So you think your computer at home is cool..........

February 11, 2010 - NASA Sun Watcher Launched.

“Solar Dynamics Observatory will observe the sun almost

continuously for more than five years, sending back data at an astounding

rate of 1.5 terabytes per day - like almost 500,000 music downloads per day.”

- Elizabeth Citrin, Ph.D., NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Atlas 5 rocket carrying NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)

satellite blasted off from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on

February 11, 2010. Solar variability such as coronal mass ejections can affect human

space flight, satellite operations, smart power grids, GPS navigation, emergency radio

communications, air travel, and financial services. NASA says, “SDO will observe

the sun faster, deeper and in greater detail than any previous observatories,

breaking barriers of space, time and clarity that have long blocked progress

in solar physics.” Image credit: Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.

Thanks:

http://www.earthfiles.com/