The joint ESA–Chinese Academy of Sciences mission launched on 19 May, reached its final orbit on 20 June and was cleared for science on 23 September. Its four instruments will image how the solar wind hits Earth’s magnetic shield; during checkout its ultraviolet camera already followed auroras for record 45-hour stretches. Our take: a view of the collision from outside, which is exactly what aurora and storm forecasts have been missing.
- 19.05launch
- 20.06final orbit
- 23.09science approved