Solar Maximum Mission

The Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) was an observatory-satellite to study the Sun (e.g., solar flares) during the more intense part of the solar cycle. It was launched in early 1980, failed after six months of operation, was repaired via Space Shuttle in 1984, then operated until it fell to Earth in 1989. Instruments:

• C/P - coronagraph/polarimeter.
• UVSP - ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter.
• XRP - Soft X-ray polychromator.
• HXIS - Hard X-ray imaging spectrometer.
• HXRBS - hard X-ray burst spectrometer.
• GRS - gamma-ray spectrometer.
• ACRIM - Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor.