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NASA’s new spacecraft will travel within 26 MILES of the sun in order to gather data that will help scientist better predict solar storms
Dailymail.com ^ | 01/28/2020 | Stacy Liberatore

Posted on 01/28/2020 5:30:57 PM PST by BenLurkin

In collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the team is launching the Solar Orbiter that will use Venus's and Earth's gravity to swing itself out of the ecliptic plane — the area of space aligned with the sun's equator, where all planets orbit.

From this position, the craft will feast its eyes on the first-ever look of the massive yellow dwarf star, which will provide scientists with better data to predict solar storms more accurately.

Solar Orbiter is equipped with a custom-designed titanium heat shield coated with a specific phosphate that withstands temperatures over 900 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing it to get within 26 miles of the blazing sun.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; icarus; polarorbit; science; solarorbiter; sun
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To: tet68

26 miles.. not likely.. that’d singe the old cat’s whiskers and then some. that must be some shield


41 posted on 01/28/2020 6:10:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi - Monthly Donors Rock!!! The UN is so olf and dated.)
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To: Meatspace

It’ a dry heat, so not so bad.


42 posted on 01/28/2020 6:12:01 PM PST by Mark (Celebrities... is there anything they do not know? -Homer Simpson)
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To: PghBaldy

Los Angeles to Catalina Island close.


43 posted on 01/28/2020 6:12:19 PM PST by Flash Bazbeaux
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To: BenLurkin

I hope they slathered that thing with sun block.


44 posted on 01/28/2020 6:12:21 PM PST by LIConFem (I will no longer accept the things I cannot change. it's time to change the things I cannot accept.)
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To: oldvirginian

New Math, that must be it. :^)

Our kids were in grammar school in the 70’s when they came out with the first new math fiasco, there was no way I could help them.

Thank heavens it didn’t last long.


45 posted on 01/28/2020 6:13:10 PM PST by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: BenLurkin
Speaking as an engineer and a mathematician I think this is ridiculous. How can we get any spacecraft that close to the sun????

I worked for Fairchild Space Company, now merged with Martin Marietta. I worked on top secret Navy satellites. We built those them tough as sh*t. But I know damn well right they would not stand up within 26 miles of the the Sun. This reporter has to be nuts.

46 posted on 01/28/2020 6:15:36 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (Guide me, O thou great redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land.)
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To: tet68

26 miles is impossible. That would be at the surface where the temperature is some 10,000 degrees F. Titanium won’t handle that kind of temperature.


47 posted on 01/28/2020 6:16:46 PM PST by JAKraig (my religion is at least as good as yours)
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To: SkyDancer
The heat must be incredible.

Yes, but it's a dry heat.

48 posted on 01/28/2020 6:17:03 PM PST by yesthatjallen
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To: BenLurkin
Interesting.

Currently, the Parker Solar Probe is already closer than that to the Sun.

The last update at the Parker Solar Probe site has this probe at 11,675,969 miles from the Sun moving along at 243,562 mph. It's primary heat shield is currently registering 1,128.8°F.

The probe is getting closer by the minute.
49 posted on 01/28/2020 6:19:36 PM PST by Pox (Good Night. I expect more respect tomorrow.)
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To: BenLurkin

After the mission NASA will release a report that Sun only has a few years left because of global warming...


50 posted on 01/28/2020 6:21:01 PM PST by shotgun
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To: BenLurkin

“We get signal!”

“What it say?”

“Poof!”


51 posted on 01/28/2020 6:22:00 PM PST by W. (Hey, beer!)
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To: BenLurkin

Isn’t it millions of degrees in the Sun’s corona?


52 posted on 01/28/2020 6:22:03 PM PST by EEGator
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To: BenLurkin; oldasrocks; SkyDancer
The heat is on.
53 posted on 01/28/2020 6:22:21 PM PST by Redcitizen ("There's no replacement for shot placement" - Paul Harrell)
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To: yesthatjallen
"Yes, but it's a dry heat."


54 posted on 01/28/2020 6:24:19 PM PST by EEGator
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To: BenLurkin
26 miles. Here is a preview of the photos.


55 posted on 01/28/2020 6:28:35 PM PST by Bryan24 (When in doubt, move to the right..........)
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To: oldvirginian

If you were calculating the difference between 26 miles and 26 million miles, then it would be 25,999,976 miles, not 26,999,974 miles. However, the error in the precision of the calculation of the distance from the sun will be far greater than 26 miles.


56 posted on 01/28/2020 6:29:08 PM PST by reg45 (Barack 0bama: Gone but not forgiven.)
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To: Bryan24

I think I can see the flag.


57 posted on 01/28/2020 6:30:40 PM PST by Billthedrill
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To: BenLurkin

At least it isn’t at our earths core.

Man Bear Pig says that is millions of degrees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14kNtnJgXXM


58 posted on 01/28/2020 6:30:49 PM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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To: jazusamo

I have a grandson contending with the common core crap. My daughter has to get on the internet to research how to help him and she was a math wizard in school.

We are “educating” generations of illiterate ignorants.


59 posted on 01/28/2020 6:30:56 PM PST by oldvirginian (I know not what course others may take but as for me Give me Liberty or give me death)
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To: Billthedrill

I thought that was Mars?


60 posted on 01/28/2020 6:31:30 PM PST by eyedigress ((Old storm chaser from the west))
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