Solar Orbiter’s trajectory from launch in February 2020 to the start of the nominal mission phase after gravity assist manoeuvre (GAM) E1, viewed from above the ecliptic. The GAMs at Venus (V) and Earth (E) are indicated, along with the orbits of these two planets (Earth: blue, Venus: orange). The black inner circle indicates the minimal perihelion distance of 0.28 AU that Solar Orbiter will reach during its nominal mission phase.