ESA-NASA solar orbiter hit by terrifying coronal mass ejection near Venus

tech.hindustantimes.com:

The ESA-NASA Solar Orbiter has just survived a terrifying coronal mass ejection out there in space when it flew by Venus for a gravity-assist manoeuvre that alters the spacecraft's orbit, getting it even closer to the Sun. Informing about the same the European Space Agency (ESA) said in a report, "In the early hours of Sunday, 4 September, Solar Orbiter flew by Venus for a gravity-assist manoeuvre that alters the spacecraft's orbit, getting it even closer to the Sun. As if trying to get the orbiter's attention as it cosied up to another body in the Solar System, the Sun flung an enormous coronal mass ejection (CME) straight at the spacecraft and planet just two days before the closest approach – and the data are revealing."

According to the report, a large coronal mass ejection was shot from the Sun in the direction of Venus on August 30, which also reached the second planet (Venus) from the Sun. "As the data continues to come in from Solar Orbiter, this strike reveals why ‘in situ' monitoring of space weather and its effects on the bodies, and spacecraft, of the Solar System are so important," it added.

It can be noted that there were no negative effects on the spacecraft as the ESA-NASA solar observatory is designed to withstand and in fact measure violent outbursts from our star – although Venus does not always get off so lightly.

According to the information provided by ESA, Solar Orbiter is a quarter of the way through its decade-long mission to observe the Sun up close and get a look at its mysterious poles. Its orbit was chosen to be in close resonance with Venus, meaning it returns to the planet's vicinity every few orbits to use its gravity to alter or tilt its orbit.

"This third flyby of Venus took place on Sunday