NASA Probe Attempts Record-Breaking Close Encounter with Sun

A Nasa spacecraft is undertaking a historic maneuver, aiming for its closest-ever proximity to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe is plunging into our star’s outer atmosphere, enduring brutal temperatures and extreme radiation. Communication with the spacecraft has ceased for a period of several days during this extremely hot pass, and researchers anticipate a signal at 05:00 GMT on 28 December to confirm its survival. The mission’s objective is to enhance our comprehension of the Sun’s mechanisms. Dr Nicola Fox, who leads science operations at Nasa, commented to 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.” She added, “And so we can’t really experience the atmosphere of our star unless we fly through it.” The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018, embarking on a trajectory towards the core of our solar system. It has previously completed 21 passes by the Sun, progressively decreasing its distance, but the current fly-by on Christmas Eve marks a new record. During this closest approach, the probe is positioned 3.8 million miles (6.2 million km) from the Sun’s surface. While this distance may not appear minimal, Nasa’s Nicola Fox provided context: “We are 93 million miles away from the Sun, so if I put the Sun and the Earth one metre apart, Parker Solar Probe is four centimetres from the Sun – so that’s close.” The probe is designed to withstand temperatures reaching 1,400C and radiation levels capable of damaging its internal electronics. A carbon-composite shield, 11.5cm (4.5 inches) thick, provides protection, but the spacecraft’s strategy relies on rapid entry and exit. Indeed, it will achieve speeds exceeding any human-made object, traveling at 430,000mph, which is comparable to a flight from London to New York in under 30 seconds. The substantial gravitational force exerted by the Sun as the probe approaches it is responsible for Parker’s high velocity. The rationale behind this extensive endeavor to “touch” the Sun is to address a persistent scientific enigma. Researchers anticipate that the spacecraft’s transit through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as its corona, will provide answers to a long-unresolved question. “The corona is really, really hot, and we have no idea why,” explains Dr Jenifer Millard, an astronomer affiliated with Fifth Star Labs in Wales. She further stated: “The surface of the Sun is about 6,000C or so, but the corona, this tenuous outer atmosphere that you can see during solar eclipses, reaches millions of degrees – and that is further away from the Sun. So how is that atmosphere getting hotter?” Additionally, the mission is expected to advance scientists’ understanding of solar wind, which is a continuous flow of charged particles emanating from the corona. The interaction of these particles with Earth’s magnetic field results in the appearance of brilliant auroras. However, this phenomenon, referred to as space weather, also has the potential to disrupt power grids, electronic devices, and communication networks. Dr Millard emphasized: “Understanding the Sun, its activity, space weather, the solar wind, is so important to our everyday lives on Earth.” Scientists at Nasa are experiencing an anxious period during Christmas as the spacecraft remains out of contact with Earth. Nicola Fox mentioned that upon the successful transmission of a signal back to Earth, her team plans to send her a green heart emoji to confirm the probe’s status. She acknowledged her apprehension regarding the bold endeavor but expressed confidence in the probe. She stated: “I will worry about the spacecraft. But we really have designed it to withstand all of these brutal, brutal conditions. It’s a tough, tough little spacecraft.” Should it successfully overcome this formidable challenge, the probe is slated to proceed with its mission orbiting the Sun indefinitely. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding its policy on external linking is available.