Scientist calls for observing sun from its polar orbit

Yang Mengfei, a distinguished spacecraft scientist and national political adviser, has called for government support for the research and development of a satellite capable of observing the sun from a solar polar orbit.

"The sun is the very star that created all life on Earth and has the biggest effect on humans. At the same time, solar activities are the root of many cosmic hazards that can disrupt human activities such as communications, power supply, air traffic and spacecraft operations," said Yang, a senior researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Space powers such as the United States, Europe and Japan have launched more than 70 spacecraft dedicated to solar observation. China has also deployed its first solar observation satellite.