It is a composite image built using SODISM images recorded July 24, 2010 from 12 h 47 to 13 h 01. The three RGB components are images recorded at the
wavelength 607 nm (R), 535nm (G) and 393 nm (B).
23/07/2010 - First full disk images
The image on the right is one of the first images where the entire solar disk is visible. The image was taken by SODISM on 22/07 at 16:12, sent to the ground stations and restored at the CMS-P. At the low left, you can observe a sun spot.
Below, a short video shows a sequence of some of the first images. The observed vibrations are due to the fact that the images are not yet calibrated to be perfectly centered.
20/07/2010 - Opened the door of SODISM
This morning, the door of SODISM has been successfully opened. The first images of the sun will soon follow.
11/07/2010 - Thermal observations
The graph on the right shows the temperature of the door at the front of the SODISM telescope. Two distinct effects are apparent:
There have been several eclipses of the sun by the moon in the satellite's orbit on July 11th. The satellite not being lit by the sun causes its temperature to decrease. Two of the following three eclipses are clearly visible on the graph:
eclipse from 17:52 to 18:06
eclipse from 19:20 to 19:31
eclipse from 20:42 to 20:58
On July 12th, the door has been partially opened to test the opening mechanism before fully opening it. As a consequence, the temperature at the front of the instrument has slightly risen, which is also visible on the graph.
29/06/2010 - Switched on SOVAP and PREMOS
On the 28th, at 10:15 AM and 04:00 PM respectively, SOVAP and PREMOS were switched on. Around noon on the 29th, PREMOS was put in "night" mode and its internal heater was switched on.
The graph on the right shows the rising temperature of the two instruments (SOVAP in blue, PREMOS in green) after switching them on. You'll also notice the temperature rising faster when PREMOS's heater comes into play. Furthermore, in comparison with the previous graph below, it is clear that the temperatures of SODISM and the payload's control unit (PGCU) have stabilised over the previous days.
24/06/2010 - Started the payload's control unit and SODISM's temperature controller
The control system of the payload (called the PGCU) was started on June 23th at 06:00AM. The next day at 04:20PM, also the temperature control system of SODISM (one of the instruments) was switched on. SODISM's CCD is being heated to increase outgassing in order to decontaminate it. The other two instruments, PREMOS and SOVAP are currently OFF.
The chart on the side clearly shows the rising temperature of the payload control unit since it was switched on (black line), as well as the rising temperature of the CCD (red line). The oscillations in the signal are due to the Earth's influence; they have the same period as the satellite's orbit.
15/06/2010 - Launch
Picard has been successfully launched and brought in orbit today. The Dnepr launcher that carried the Picard and Prisma satellites took off at 16:42 from the Yasny base in Russia. About 15 minutes later, Picard was released from the 3rd stage of the launcher. The first telemetry from the satellite arrived shortly after, as expected.
