NASA STEREO A & B Spacecraft Communications to be Blocked by the Sun - Video

NASA Stereo Project team have stated that communication with the two STEREO spacecraft will soon cease when the sun blocks Earth's view of them. This position is known in astronomy as a superior conjunction.

This will happen for STEREO-Ahead from March 24 to July 7, 2015. STEREO-Behind will be in superior conjunction from January 22 to March 23, 2015.

During this period the NASA Stereo Project team claim that at least one spacecraft will always be collecting data, but that because of their position relative to the Sun, communications will be severely reduced.

The ability of Stereo A and Stereo B to gather scientific data on the Sun and transmit data back to Earth, will be greatly reduced during 2015 and on into 2016.