STUDYING THE SUN

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has flown through the corona – the first spacecraft to get so close

1 Taking samples The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018. It flew through the corona to sample particles and magnetic fields in December 2021. There are spikes and valleys that wrinkle the surface. 2 Protection To enable the probe to withstand the extreme heat of nearly 1,377 degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit), as well as radiation, it has a thick carbon-composite shield. The payload is at near room temperature. 3 Primary goals The probe is tracing how energy and heat move through the corona. It’s also exploring what accelerates the solar wind and solar energetic particles. 4 Comparative study Squire and his team say the structures and eddies forming in their simulation are similar to the measurements being taken by the probe. 5 Instruments The probe’s Electromagnetic Fields Investigation…

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All About Space Annual (Digital) - 1 Issue, All About Space Annual (2024)

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