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Compact Coronagraph (CCOR)

Artist's illustration of events on the sun changing the conditions in near-Earth space. (Image credit: NASA)
Artist's illustration of events on the sun changing the conditions in near-Earth space. (Image credit: NASA)

OPPA's Compact Coronagraph (CCOR) Project is developing a solar coronagraph instrument for space weather forecasting. CCOR will image the solar corona and be used to observe Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). With CCOR data the size, mass, speed, and direction of CMEs can be derived. With this information forecasters can provide watches for impending geomagnetic storms over one day in advance. CCOR is being developed for NOAA at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, the world leader in coronal imaging instruments. CCOR mixes heritage NRL designs with innovative technology to produce a coronagraph specifically designed for NOAA's observational needs that is also half the size and weight of a traditional coronagraph. This small size, as well as other new features, allows CCOR to be accommodated easily on a large variety of spacecraft platforms, including GOES-U.

A CAD rendering of the CCOR instrument's placement on the GOES-U satellite.
A CAD rendering of the CCOR instrument's placement on the GOES-U satellite.