It is momentous news for the Parker Solar Probe as it dives into the outer atmosphere of the Sun through extreme high temperatures and extreme radiation. The spacecraft will be silent and out of touch with the scientists for several days during this fly-by to wait for that critical signal on 28 December at 05:00 GMT to find out whether the spacecraft has survived.
This mission would open a window into the Sun’s functioning. As Dr. Nicola Fox, head of science at Nasa, put it: When it comes to really knowing things, and having spent centuries studying the Sun, it’s time to fly through its atmosphere.
To reach the mission’s destination, the Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018. Now, it is on its way toward the very heart of our solar system, having already completed 21 rounds in orbit around the Sun and drawing steadily closer. The Christmas Eve flyby happens to mark a new step forward. During this closest approach, the probe will be only 3.8 million miles (6.2 million kilometers) from the Sun’s surface.
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Temperatures will soar as high as 1,400°C, and radiation levels will rapidly degrade the electronics on board the spacecraft. However, this damage will be minimal because the probe will rapidly fly through an 11.5 cm thick carbon-composite shield.
While studying at about 430,000 mph under the gravitational pull of the Sun, the spacecraft will pass under tremendous temperatures of 1,400°C and intense radiation which could destroy its onboard electronics.
The mission is basically to unravel the mysteries of the outer atmosphere, or corona, of the Sun. Dr. Jenifer Millard explained that the surface temperature of the Sun is around 6000 degrees, while the corona has the distinction of being millions of degrees hot. And that, scientists are keeping the reason for that high-temperature heat a mystery.
The next leg in the mission should also serve to help inform how the solar wind—the continuous flux of charged particles pouring out from the corona—affects Earth’s environment. Whenever charged particles do shower down on the face of the Earth, they will result in auroras, but they can also damage power grids, electronics, and communications systems, making studies of space weather an important one.
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Grasping the Sun’s behaviors is highly important for daily life on planet Earth. NASA scientists are anxiously waiting for word from the spacecraft about its survival this Christmas season because it has been out of contact the entire holiday. As explained by Dr. Fox, when a signal is received from the probe, a green heart emoji will be given an indication of the probe’s well-being. She said that although it causes major anxiety, she has faith that the spacecraft can withstand the trials.
If the Parker Solar Probe survives, it shall once again make its way to the sun for further exploration of its mysteries and will continue to broaden the horizon of scientific knowledge.