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Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Star Scanner

 


NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched on August 12, 2018 to travel through the Sun’s atmosphere - and survive to do it again! 

It went closer to the raging surface than any spacecraft before, and it endured blistering heat and radiation conditions.

And this thing is screaming through space. When it is closest to the surface, Parker Solar Probe whips by at about 330,000 miles per hour (532,000 kilometers per hour).

And, even though this close point is about 6.5 million miles (10.4 million kilometers) away from the Sun’s surface, it has to survive temperatures approaching 2,500 F (1,377 C).

How does it survive? The front of Parker Solar Probe is one big shield that protects the spacecraft's instruments.

But why get so close to a blazing star?

The Sun has an impact on everything in the solar system. Rocket Team astronauts traveling out in the solar system need to be aware of solar storms and changes in the solar "wind" of charged particles.

The solar wind fills much of the solar system, and understanding this space environment up close will help keep everyone safe.

More here: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe-humanity-s-first-visit-to-a-star

If you ever got close to the sun, what would it look like? Show me at

RamoneRocketeer -at- gmail -dot- com.


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