Solar Orbiter spacecraft launch preparations. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft being encapsulated in the Atlas 5 4m fairing in preparation for launch. Solar Orbiter (SolO) is a European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft that will study the heliosphere, the bubble created in space by the solar wind. It will be the first satellite to provide close-up views of the Sun's polar regions. At its closest approach in its orbit, it will be around 42 million kilometres from the Sun. It will also attain high speeds, nearly matching the Sun's axial rotation. Its instruments include the Solar Wind Analyser, the Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager, and the Radio and Plasma Wave analyser. It is planned for launch on 10th February 2020. Photographed at the Astrotech facility in Titusville, Florida, USA, on 21st January 2020.