By : Lloyd Mahachi
A NASA spacecraft is attempting to make history with the closest ever approach to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe is plunging into our star’s outer atmosphere.
Enduring brutal temperatures and extreme radiation, this is a momentous occasion. The spacecraft will be flying into the Sun’s outer atmosphere, a region that is still not well understood.
The Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018, heading to the center of our Solar System. It has already swept past the Sun 21 times, getting ever nearer.
But the Christmas Eve visit is record-breaking. At its closest approach, the probe is 3.8 million miles from our star’s surface. This might not sound that close.
NASA’s Nicola Fox puts it into perspective. We are 93 million miles away from the Sun, so if I put the Sun and the Earth one meter apart, Parker Solar Probe is four centimeters from the Sun.
That’s incredibly close. The probe will have to endure temperatures of 1,400C and radiation that could frazzle the onboard electronics.
It’s protected by a 11.5cm thick carbon-composite shield, but the spacecraft’s tactic is to get in and out fast. This is a delicate balancing act.
In fact, it will be moving faster than any human-made object, hurtling at 430,000mph. That’s the equivalent of flying from London to New York in less than 30 seconds.
This is an incredible feat, requiring precise calculations and engineering. The spacecraft’s speed and agility will be put to the test.
As it navigates the intense heat and radiation of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, scientists hold their breath. So why go to all this effort to “touch” the Sun?
Scientists hope that as the spacecraft passes through our star’s outer atmosphere, it will solve a long-standing mystery. The corona is really, really hot, and we have no idea why.
The surface of the Sun is about 6,000C or so, but the corona reaches millions of degrees. This is a puzzling phenomenon, and one that has left scientists baffled.
The mission should also help scientists understand solar wind. When these particles interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, the sky lights up with dazzling auroras.
But this so-called space weather can cause problems too, knocking out power-grids, electronics, and communication systems. Understanding the Sun is crucial.
Its activity has a significant impact on our climate and weather patterns. By studying the Sun and its outer atmosphere, scientists hope to gain a better understanding.
NASA scientists face an anxious wait over Christmas while the spacecraft is out of touch with Earth. Nicola Fox says that as soon as a signal is beamed back home.
The team will text her a green heart to let her know the probe is OK. She admits she’s nervous about the audacious attempt, but she has faith in the probe.
I will worry about the spacecraft, but we really have designed it to withstand all of these brutal conditions. It’s a tough, tough little spacecraft.
The Parker Solar Probe’s mission is a historic one, and its success will depend on its ability to withstand the extreme conditions. The spacecraft’s design and engineering are a testament to human ingenuity.
Its mission will provide valuable insights into the workings of our star. As we wait with bated breath for the probe’s signal, we can only imagine the incredible discoveries it will make.
Will it survive the inferno of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or will it succumb to the intense heat and radiation? Only time will tell.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
