The Ulysses spacecraft was launched ten years ago on a mission to study the sun. Ulysses is completing a second loop around the sun’s poles. A polar orbit was achieved by first going to Jupiter to change direction out of the usual ecliptic orbit and into a polar orbit. Ulysses achieved an orbit of 80 degrees north solar latitude.

Ulysses has returned data on the structure of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field above the ecliptic plane. Ulysses will return to a Jupiter orbit to achieve a slingshot return to the sun for a third polar pass which will begin in November 2006. The European Space Agency approved an extension of Ulysses’ mission for another three years. NASA funding runs out at the end of 2001.