1) exploiting data from the first and second flights of Sunrise; 2) analyzing data from other space-borne and ground-based instruments in order to prepare the exploitation of SO/PHI data; and 3) carrying out theoretical investigations of the Suns magnetic field. This scientific goal provides full justification to all the technological efforts made so far and those to come. The strategy of a nation-wide, single consortium to coordinate the Spanish contribution is the same as that adopted 16 years ago since the first Sunrise mission, which has obtained excellent results. Expertise in different scientific and technological disciplines from the various institutes is combined with a common goal. Our Spanish consortium has been internationally considered a single team efficiently working to develop, and finally deliver, challenging aerospace instruments. As IMaX is the conceptual precursor of PHI, including the critical technological developments (LCVRs, LiNbO3 etalon, electronic inverter of the RTE), our team has a great deal of know-how that is highly valued within the international PHI and Sunrise consortia. It is because this accumulated knowledge that we have been naturally invited to participate in PMI. |
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