# Transition Region And Coronal Explorer

> NASA space observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q1333568](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1333568)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRACE)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/transition-region-and-coronal-explorer

## Summary
The Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE) was a NASA space observatory launched in 1998 to study the Sun's atmosphere. It was part of NASA's Small Explorer program and operated as a space telescope observing the Sun in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths.

## Key Facts
- Launched on April 2, 1998, from Vandenberg Space Force Base
- Launched using a Pegasus air-launched rocket from the Stargazer carrier aircraft
- Also known as Explorer 73, SMEX-4, and TRACE卫星
- Operated as part of NASA's Explorers Program (mission 73) and Small Explorer program (mission 4)
- Had a Wikipedia title of "TRACE" and commons category of "TRACE"
- Had 23 sitelinks and was available in 10 Wikipedia languages
- Had a VAF ID of 151607562 and freebase ID of /m/04_dt7
- Had a cospar ID of 1998-020A and NSSDCA ID of 1998-020A
- Had a Google Play store ID of "TRACE"
- Had a Wolfram Language entity code of Entity["Satellite", "25280"]

## FAQs
### Q: What was the purpose of the Transition Region And Coronal Explorer?
A: TRACE was a NASA space observatory designed to study the Sun's atmosphere, specifically the transition region and corona, using extreme ultraviolet observations.

### Q: When and how was TRACE launched?
A: TRACE was launched on April 2, 1998, from Vandenberg Space Force Base using a Pegasus air-launched rocket deployed from the Stargazer carrier aircraft.

### Q: What programs was TRACE part of?
A: TRACE was part of NASA's Explorers Program as mission 73 and the Small Explorer program as mission 4.

## Why It Matters
The Transition Region And Coronal Explorer represented a significant advancement in solar observation capabilities. As a space-based observatory specifically designed to study the Sun's atmosphere, TRACE provided unprecedented views of the transition region and corona in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. This allowed scientists to better understand solar phenomena such as coronal heating, magnetic field dynamics, and solar flares. By operating as part of NASA's cost-effective Small Explorer program, TRACE demonstrated how focused scientific missions could be conducted with relatively modest budgets while still producing valuable scientific data. The observatory's observations contributed to our understanding of space weather and the complex processes occurring in the Sun's atmosphere, which have implications for satellite operations, communications, and power grids on Earth.

## Notable For
- First Small Explorer mission dedicated specifically to solar observation
- Provided high-resolution images of the Sun's transition region and corona
- Operated successfully for over 12 years, far exceeding typical mission durations
- Used innovative extreme ultraviolet imaging technology for solar studies
- Part of the cost-effective Explorers Program that enabled focused scientific missions

## Body
### Mission Overview
TRACE was designed as a solar observatory to study the connections between the Sun's magnetic fields and plasma structures in the transition region and corona. The mission focused on understanding how energy is transported and dissipated in these atmospheric layers.

### Technical Specifications
As a space telescope, TRACE was equipped with instruments capable of observing the Sun in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. This allowed it to capture detailed images of solar features that are not visible in other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.

### Launch and Operations
The observatory was launched on April 2, 1998, using the Pegasus air-launched rocket system. This launch method involved carrying the rocket to altitude beneath an L-1011 carrier aircraft (Stargazer) before release and ignition. TRACE operated from its launch until its mission ended, providing continuous solar observations throughout its operational lifetime.

### Program Context
TRACE was mission 73 in NASA's Explorers Program and mission 4 in the Small Explorer (SMEX) program. These programs were designed to provide frequent flight opportunities for world-class scientific investigations from space using innovative, streamlined, and efficient management approaches.

### Scientific Contributions
The observatory's observations helped scientists understand the complex magnetic structures in the solar atmosphere and how they relate to phenomena such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. TRACE's data contributed to models of solar atmospheric dynamics and energy transport mechanisms.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Transition Region And Coronal Explorer",
  "description": "NASA space observatory launched in 1998 to study the Sun's atmosphere",
  "url": "http://trace.lmsal.com/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRACE"
  ],
  "additionalType": "space telescope"
}

## References

1. Library of Congress
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013