The Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument, designed and built by Lockheed Martin at its Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) has produced its first image. The remarkable view of the Sun, as seen in soft x-rays, is available here.

SXI is one of a suite of instruments that resides on the current generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).

“The first image is magnificent! There is enormous satisfaction in seeing that our years of effort have borne fruit,” said Mons Morrison, SXI program manager at the ATC. “While the other GOES instruments provide near-constant viewing of the Earth, SXI will watch the Sun and provide vital information regarding solar activity.”

“Once it is fully operational, the SXI will capture sharp, detailed solar images for immediate use by space weather forecasters and also provide critical data for new numerical prediction models under development,” said Tom Bogdan, director of NOAA’s Space Environment Center (SEC) in Boulder, Colo.

Since we’re headed into a period of extended dynamic solar activity, the timing couldn’t be better.