Parker Solar Probe: Nasa launches mission to 'touch the Sun'

[nitpicker]

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45160722

Parker Solar Probe: Nasa launches mission to 'touch the Sun'

4 minutes ago

US space agency Nasa has launched its mission to send a satellite closer to the Sun than any before.

The Parker Solar Probe rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The probe is set to become the fastest-moving manmade object in history. Its data promises to crack longstanding mysteries about the Sun's behaviour.

It is the first space craft to be named after a living person - astrophysicist Eugene Parker, 91, who first described solar wind in 1958.
"Wow, here we go! We're in for some learning over the next several years," he said as he watched the lift-off.

The Delta-IV Heavy rocket - which was carrying the probe - launched at 03:31 local time (07:31 GMT). It came after a failed attempt the previous day, when a last-minute alarm caused the agency to miss its 65-minute weather window.
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[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. Totally cool.

I have a son who is in a PhD program in astronomy at George Mason University, and tonight he told me about this. He kind of enjoys springing surprises on me. Anyway, from what he told me, this is an amazing mission.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

2. More info for us geeks....

NASA Parker Solar Probe Mission
Link: https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe

NASA Missions A-Z:
Link: https://www.nasa.gov/missions

Space.com Article:
NASA Launches Daring Solar Probe Mission to Kiss the Sun
By Mike Wall, Space.com Senior Writer - August 12, 2018

Link: https://www.space.com/41454-nasa-parker-solar-probe-launches-to-sun.html

(snips)

Over the next seven years, the $1.5 billion mission will perform 24 close flybys of the sun, getting within just 3.83 million miles (6.16 million km) of the solar surface at its closest approach — far nearer than the previous record-holder, the German-American Helios 2 spacecraft, which got within 27 million miles (43 million km) in 1976.

During such tight passes — the first of which will occur in early November — the sun's powerful gravity will accelerate the Parker Solar Probe to top speeds of around 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h), NASA officials have said. That will obliterate the mark of 165,000 mph (265,000 km/h), which was set by NASA's Juno probe during its arrival at Jupiter in July 2016.
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....the spacecraft's sun-facing side will be heated to about 2,500 degrees F (1,370 degrees C), according to NASA officials.
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To deal with heat, the solar-powered probe is equipped with a 7.5-foot-wide (2.3 meters), 4.5-inch-thick (11.4 centimeters) shield made of advanced carbon-composite material, which will keep most of the spacecraft's scientific instruments at a comfortable 85 degrees F (29 degrees C).

She hides behind a big carbon composite brick! See "Photos" on the NASA missions site for views of the satellite and heat shield.

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[jimlup]

3. Solar wind is interesting and everything

But i want to use this probe to do a rigorous test of GR

[lastlib]

4. Smart people at NASA--they went at night!

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Good plan!

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