Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager

April 19, 2023

RHESSI (Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager) is a NASA satellite that has been orbiting the Earth for over 20 years, providing valuable insights into the sun’s powerful bursts of energy known as solar flares. Launched in 2002 and decommissioned in 2018, RHESSI is now expected to make its final descent to Earth this week, bringing an end to its remarkable mission.

Key Facts About RHESSI

RHESSI was launched by NASA in 2002 to study solar flares and their associated coronal mass ejections.
The spacecraft weighs approximately 660 pounds, and it has been orbiting the Earth for almost 21 years.
RHESSI was equipped with an imaging spectrometer, which served the main purpose of recording the sun’s X-rays and gamma rays.
One of RHESSI’s significant achievements was capturing images of high-energy electrons that carry a large part of the energy released in solar flares, providing valuable data for scientists to understand these phenomena.
RHESSI documented the huge range in solar flare size, from tiny nanoflares to massive superflares that were tens of thousands of times bigger and more explosive.

Understanding Solar Flares

Solar flares are powerful eruptions on the sun’s surface that release a tremendous amount of energy, equivalent to billions of megatons of TNT, into the sun’s atmosphere within minutes. These flares can have various effects on Earth, including the disruption of electrical systems, communication networks, and even satellite operations.

RHESSI’s Contributions

RHESSI’s data has provided vital clues to scientists about solar flares and their associated coronal mass ejections. Before RHESSI, no gamma-ray images or high-energy X-ray images had been taken of solar flares. RHESSI’s imaging spectrometer enabled scientists to study the high-energy electrons and the energy released during solar flares, helping them better understand the underlying mechanisms and dynamics of these phenomena.

RHESSI’s Mission Conclusion

After 20 years of orbiting the Earth and providing valuable data, RHESSI was decommissioned in 2018. Now, RHESSI’s final chapter is approaching, as it is expected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere this week. NASA, along with the Department of Defense, will be monitoring the satellite’s reentry to ensure the safety of people on Earth. The risk of harm from RHESSI’s return is estimated to be low, with NASA stating it to be approximately 1 in 2,467.

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