First polar orbit around the Sun

The Ulysses mission, a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA), marked a pivotal advancement in solar exploration by achieving the first polar orbit around the Sun. This mission was designed to provide comprehensive data on the solar environment, particularly focusing on the regions above and below the Sun's poles. Prior to Ulysses, most solar observations were conducted from the ecliptic plane, which limited the understanding of solar phenomena occurring at higher latitudes. Ulysses was equipped with a suite of scientific instruments that allowed it to measure solar wind, magnetic fields, cosmic rays, and other solar activities, contributing to a more complete picture of the Sun's behavior and its influence on the solar system.