The only loss of coverage occur during eclipses and spacecraft housekeeping. SXI will be integrated onto the GOES-M spacecraft, and launch is currently scheduled for August 1999. Changes in coronal holes may also be associated with terrestrial disturbances. SXI will continuously monitor the Sun to determine flare locations. These locations are used to predict proton events, because the flare s longitude is correlated with the magnitude, arrival time, and spectrum of particle events.
Particles can reach Earth from flares that are located beyond the west limb.
Images from the Soft X-ray Telescope on Yohkoh show several examples of bright filament arcades shortly after CME initiation. SXI will be used to observe active regions that are rotating over the east limb onto the visible solar disk. This will give forecasters information not currently available about regions that will be rotating onto the disk and may cause flares during the next several days. SXI will observe the intensity and complexity of coronal magnetic structures above solar active regions, seen as convoluted sets of coronal loops above the active region. The brightness and complexity will be used to estimate the rate and degree of development of the active regions and thereby assess their flare potential.