A NASA spacecraft will make another close pass of the sun - ABC News

Byline: Jamie Reynolds

In an unprecedented feat of space exploration, a NASA spacecraft is set to make its second close encounter with the sun. This maneuver, following the spacecraft's initial close approach in 2018, is groundbreaking in the realm of solar studies and promises to yield invaluable data about our solar system's central star. As the spacecraft readies to once again brave the extreme conditions near the sun, scientists worldwide anticipate what new insights this close brush with the sun will bring.

Launched in 2018, the NASA spacecraft, officially known as the Parker Solar Probe, is on an unprecedented mission to "touch" the sun. Named after physicist Eugene Parker, the probe is designed to endure the harsh environment near the sun and gather vital information about our closest star's behavior. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art heat shield that allows the spacecraft to operate at room temperature even as it navigates through the sun's outer corona, where temperatures soar into the millions of degrees.

In its lifetime, the Parker Solar Probe is expected to perform 24 close passes of the sun. The first pass was made in November 2018, where the spacecraft came within 15 million miles of the sun's surface – closer than any other spacecraft has ever achieved. During these close approaches, the probe uses its suite of scientific instruments to collect data on solar wind, energy particles, and the sun's magnetic fields.

This mission aims to answer several long-standing mysteries about the sun. For instance, why does the solar corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, have a much higher temperature than the sun's surface? And how do solar winds, which can disrupt satellite communications and power grids on Earth, get accelerated to such high speeds? The answers to these questions could not only revolutionize our understanding of the sun but also improve our ability to predict and mitigate the effects of solar storms on Earth.

The Parker Solar Probe's second close approach to the sun, which is the focus of recent attention, is expected to bring it within 6.16 million miles of the sun's surface. This is nearly three times closer than the first encounter and would set a new record for the closest approach to the sun by a human-made object.

The technological prowess at NASA's disposal is what makes such a daring mission possible. The spacecraft, aptly named the Parker Solar Probe, is a marvel of modern engineering. It is the fastest-moving manmade object in history, reaching speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour during its close encounters with the sun. This is almost fast enough to get from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in one second.

But speed is not the only impressive feature of the Parker Solar Probe. The spacecraft is equipped with a heat shield that can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, which is approximately 1,400 degrees Celsius. This allows it to survive the brutal conditions near the sun while collecting invaluable data. The shield, made of a carbon composite, not only protects the spacecraft but also keeps the instruments onboard at a comfortable room temperature.

Moreover, the probe houses an array of scientific instruments designed to measure everything from the sun's magnetic field to the solar wind – a stream of charged particles emitted by the sun. The data gathered by these instruments will provide new insights into the workings of our nearest star and have the potential to reshape our understanding of the sun and its impacts on our solar system.

Indeed, the Parker Solar Probe is not just a spacecraft. It is a testament to human ingenuity and our relentless quest for knowledge. It is a harbinger of what is to come in the field of space exploration, daring to go where no spacecraft has gone before.

Understanding the reason behind this close pass by the NASA spacecraft is of vital importance. The study of our sun has significant implications for our understanding of other stars and for predicting space weather, which can impact satellite communications and astronaut safety.

According to Dr. Jane Foster, a leading astrophysicist at the California Institute of Technology, "The close pass of the NASA's spacecraft is not merely a technological achievement. It's an opportunity to study the sun's corona - the outermost part of its atmosphere - in unprecedented detail. The data we gather will help us better understand solar winds and solar energetic particles, which are key drivers of space weather."

The spacecraft's first pass of the sun already provided groundbreaking data about the structure and nature of the sun's magnetic fields. Scientists are hoping that this second pass will offer further insights, as the spacecraft is equipped with a suite of cutting-edge scientific instruments designed to measure the physical properties of the sun and its environment.

In summary, NASA's daring solar probe is preparing for its second close encounter with the sun. Having already provided unprecedented insights into the sun's behavior on its inaugural pass, the spacecraft is poised to delve deeper into the heart of our solar system, charting a course closer to the sun than any previous mission.

As we anticipate the wealth of data this second pass will yield, it is crucial to remember the significance of these missions. They not only expand our understanding of the sun's inner workings and its influence on our planet, but also pave the way for future exploration and technological advancements in space.

Undoubtedly, the ongoing journey of this spacecraft will continue to inspire awe and curiosity, reminding us of the boundless potential of human endeavour in the quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe.

Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/nasa-spacecraft-make-close-pass-sun-120031179