Posted on 12/23/2024 10:27:50 PM PST by nickcarraway
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.
It's out of communication for several days during this burning hot fly-by and scientists will be waiting for a signal, expected on 27 December, to see if it has survived.
The hope is the probe could help us to better understand how the Sun works. Dr Nicola Fox, head of science at Nasa, told BBC News: "For centuries, people have studied the Sun, but you don't experience the atmosphere of a place until you actually go visit it "And so we can't really experience the atmosphere of our star unless we fly through it."
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Smart to go in winter, the sun will be colder.
“It’s out of communication for several days during this burning hot fly-by and scientists will be waiting for a signal, expected on 27 December, to see if it has survived.”
Just do the flyby at night. Problem solved! :^)
They should also go at night. 😁
Perhaps they should have called it ‘The Icarus’.
I suspect they will experience heat; lots and lots of heat. Hell, I live in Texas and that's close enough to the sun for me.
They should also go at night. 😁
And wear Sunglasses.
1984 - it would be best if I can land in 1975, please
1984 is a few years late though I could still avoid a few things
if I can speak with myself earlier that year
Still, set the DeLorean for 1975 (forget that nobody will know what kind of car that it is - maybe they’ll think it’s a silver Bricklin)
Does the sun have a south pole and a north pole? What is the ice cover like this time of year?
AOC should have told them to land at night, when the sun is much, much cooler.
I learned that in 6th grade science class back in 1950. Call Musk and....the other guy."
“Smart to go in winter, the sun will be colder.”
They could also approach from the sun’s dark side.
The Parker Solar Probe has been performing gravity assist maneuvers, and is up to, about, 400,000mph. It has been getting closer and closer to our Sun. When we build them right, we sure build them right. The two solar-powered Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity were ‘designed’ to last 3 months. One of them lasted just a tad longer, 13 years. There are now two SUV-size rovers on Mars. One has been exploring for over 10 years. Both have nuclear instead of solar power. Their wheels will probably wear out before the power runs out. A few years ago, the New Horizons probe traveled close to Pluto, and provided amazing photos and years of data. New Horizons was then able to examine stuff out past Pluto. The Europa Clipper is on its way to the Jupiter system.
With the next four years of the President Trump Administration, look forward to much more.
you don’t experience the atmosphere of a place until you actually go visit it
What do you really expect to find out except that its hot?
Its not like a trip to Rome to experience the culture...
I am of 2 minds when it comes to spending these millions for danged little gain. There’s the “oh wow...thats coo;” me and the “You remember you have 2 astronauts stuck somewhere, right?” me.
WOW what a goal!!!
What incredibly STUPID maniac is going to volunteer for THAT assignment?
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