Home Environmental NASA’s Spacecraft Will Fly Through The Sun’s Scorching Hot Atmosphere

NASA’s Spacecraft Will Fly Through The Sun’s Scorching Hot Atmosphere

spacecraft
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe inside one half of its 62.7-foot-tall fairing.
Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman

In the wee hours of Saturday morning (3:33 AM), a car-sized NASA spacecraft will embark on its journey to the center of our Solar System, where it will mingle with the scorching hot atmosphere of our Sun. The vehicle is the Parker Solar Probe, and it’s destined to get within 4 million miles of our parent star, which is closer than any other human-made artifact has reached before. From this vantage point, the probe is poised to solve mysteries about the Sun and its atmosphere that have plagued scientists for over half a century.

 

 

 

Faith Based Events
An illustration of Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun.
Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben

NASA has long wanted to send a vehicle to the Sun’s atmosphere, but such a mission has been considered impossible until the last few decades. This region of space, known as the corona, is filled with tiny, energetic particles that can reach above 3 million degrees Fahrenheit. Any vehicle that ventures near this region must have sophisticated protection to keep from melting. But thanks to advancements in carbon manufacturing and other key areas of engineering, NASA has been able to create a vehicle with a state-of-the-art heat shield and other crucial cooling systems. The result: the spacecraft will stay at room temperature in some of the hottest places in the Solar System.

[vc_btn title=”Continue reading” style=”outline” color=”black” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theverge.com%2F2018%2F8%2F8%2F17660274%2Fnasa-parker-solar-probe-sun-corona-atmosphere-solar-wind||target:%20_blank|”][vc_message message_box_style=”outline” message_box_color=”black”]TheVerge, excerpt posted on  SouthFloridaReporter.com, Aug. 11, 2018 [/vc_message]

Disclaimer

The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components


The Verge is an ambitious multimedia effort founded in 2011 to examine how technology will change life in the future for a massive mainstream audience. Our original editorial insight was that technology had migrated from the far fringes of the culture to the absolute center as mobile technology created a new generation of digital consumers. Now, we live in a dazzling world of screens that has ushered in revolutions in media, transportation, and science. The future is arriving faster than ever.