The Time When Concorde Chased A Solar Eclipse

An artistic representation of Concorde 001 flying under the 1973 solar eclipse.

Concorde 001, a prototype of the supersonic jet Concorde, was used to chase a total solar eclipse across Africa on June 30, 1973. The intent behind this mission was to extend the observation time of the eclipse so that scientists could get more time for studying the Sun's corona and chromosphere.

Background

A total solar eclipse was due to take place on June 30, 1973, and from any one location on Earth, this eclipse would last just about 7 minutes. Scientists, however, wanted a longer observation period so that they could get more information about the Sun, Earth, and the various events that would take place during this eclipse. Concorde's speed of Mach 2 offered the opportunity to fly at approximately the same speed as the moon's shadow, which greatly extended the time of totality for study.

The Flight Plan

The Concorde 001 lifted off from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands at 10:08 GMT, and the flight path was computed to cross over to the track of the eclipse. After taking off, the jet flew over countries like Mauritania, Chad, and Sudan on a path roughly 1,000 miles in length. This path had been chosen because it allowed for the aircraft to stay in the shadow of the moon, which was moving at roughly 1,100 mph (1700 kph), for a very extended period, therefore turning what would be a very brief phenomenon into a long scientific observation session.

The Science Behind the Mission

Scientists from France, Britain, and the United States participated in this mission. With them, they took onboard instruments that measured solar radiation, analyzed the corona of the sun, and studied changes in the atmosphere of Earth during the eclipse. Usually, observations of a solar eclipse are quite limited because the time the moon's shadow spends over any given location is very short. In this case, however, the Concorde flew with the shadow, extending the observation time from 7 minutes to 74 minutes. This extension thus enabled a more profound investigation of the sun's outer atmosphere, which is only visible to the naked eye during an eclipse, when the moon blocks the bright surface of the Sun.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

The interior of Concorde 001.

Flying in sync with the eclipse presented a number of technical challenges. First, the pilots had to maintain exact altitude and speed in order to not veer out of the path of the eclipse. The speed of the aircraft was also critical because if they went too fast, they would outrun the shadow, and if they were too slow, they would fall behind. Navigation was supplemented by ground-based radar as well as calculations made in-flight to keep the Concorde flying in the correct path at the right speed. The windows on the plane were adapted so that observations could take place, with some of them covered with filters to protect the instruments and the observers from the sun's rays.

Results of the Mission

The prolonged observation time enabled for data collection that would pretty much be impossible from the ground. The scientists were able to get data about the solar corona, which usually remains unseen because of the bright glare of the Sun. They then studied the corona's structure, its temperature, and its interaction with solar wind. Observations also included measurements of the chromosphere, the layer of the sun's atmosphere just below the corona, which provided some insights into solar activity and its influence on space weather.

The data from this flight helped scientists understand the Sun and its behavior better and how it affects Earth. This mission showed how technology can aid scientific study, especially in those fields where time is a hindrance. The success of this operation led to discussions about using aircraft for future astronomical events, but missions like this are logistically and financially challenging.

Historical Context

The observation of solar eclipses has a long history, dating back thousands of years ago to great ancient civilizations such as the Chinese and the Mayans. Over time, the methods for solar eclipse observation have evolved from pure fascination to sophisticated scientific study.

In the 19th century, scientists began photographing eclipses to record the Sun's corona, which eventually led to the discovery of helium in the Sun’s atmosphere. This period also saw the first attempts to organize expeditions to remote locations for observing solar eclipses.

Conclusion

The Concorde’s mission of chasing the 1973 solar eclipse was part of, at the time, a broader trend of international collaboration in science. Scientists from different countries combined their resources and expertise, and such collaboration was vital for sharing the cost, knowledge, and logistical support that was required for such trips. Regardless, the 1973 mission really helped add a lot of scientific information on both the Sun and the Earth.

Overall, the 20th century itself was marked by huge progress in the observation of solar eclipses. For example, the eclipse of 1919 was important because it provided evidence for Einstein's general theory of relativity and showed the bending of starlight around the sun. After World War II, the era of space exploration began, which opened up new opportunities for eclipse observation.

Before the Concorde mission in 1973, there had also been other attempts at making aircraft useful in astronomical observations. In 1932, an American expedition had used an airplane to observe an eclipse over Massachusetts, though it wasn’t as successful due to inferior technology. By the time of the Concorde flight, however, technology had gotten much more advanced, and it enabled for more precise control and sophisticated instruments.