Man has proved again and again that there is nothing that he can’t do. With new technology and scientific research coming up every day, the day is not far when we may finally win over even death. With an International Space Station high up in the heavens, there is no doubt that human beings have already conquered space. Though efforts have been made to bring back information from individual planets, there is one star which has remained unconquerable so far. The source of all our energy — the sun! The severely high temperature has been the biggest and only obstacle so far. However, after years of research, NASA has finally come up with its Touch The Sun Mission. As the date of its launch comes nearer, let’s take a look at what is all the uproar about.
Parker Solar Probe
Parker Solar Probe happens to be the name of the rocket that will hopefully make NASA’s first venture to the sun successful! The first question that would come to everyone’s mind is: what is the rocket made of? Won’t it melt once it is near the sun? Well, scientists did plan this all meticulously — the probe will be wearing a 5-inch thick carbon composite solar shields which are supposed to keep it safe from the unbearable heat of the sun. Add to it never-before-experienced radiation, too! The unique heat shield has been the best invention as it has helped solve the biggest challenge of the mission. If it is successful, it will bring back several answers to questions that have been in our minds for years now.
The spacecraft is special not just because it is made of unique materials; it is also the first time NASA has decided to name a spaceship after a person. Astrophysicist Eugene Parker was the inspiration behind the name. The probe will carry a chip containing Parker’s photo, a message, and one of his research papers, too. That’s not all though as the probe will also carry a chip containing names of people who happened to sign up online on 27th April 2018.
What Will It Do?
The Probe will be within 4 million miles of the sun and will bring back several important data that will help scientists understand several things about the sun. It will be closer to the sun than Mercury! Incidentally, NASA’s spaceship has already been to Mercury, and it took 60 years for NASA to make this mission possible simply because the materials used didn’t even exist 60 years ago. More specifically, the Parker Solar Probe will bring back information on solar winds and space weather which may explain how it affects the Earth’s weather — in fact, scientists believe that the damages can be huge. Additionally, this mission also aims to observe the sun’s corona which is a hundred times hotter than the core of the sun, and the huge bursts of plasma that the sun releases into space.
When Is The D-Day?
The probe is all set for take off now, and is scheduled to depart on August 6, 2018, 4:08 AM, EDT. It took 10 years to build the spacecraft, and the hour has finally come for NASA to launch one of the most unique missions in the last few decades. According to reports, it will leave earth on a rocket, and once it is in space, the probe will be then given a specific path that will lead it directly to the sun. It will set another record as it will fly near the sun at a speed of 430,000 mph which will make it the fastest human-made object. The Parker Solar Probe will be set to go around the sun 24 times, and after seven years, the spaceship will slowly run out of fuel. Soon after, it will disintegrate into smaller parts. That will be the end of it, though a senior scientist from the project, Nicola Fox, says, “I romantically like to think that she will become part of the corona and orbit the sun forever.”
If you are one of those enthusiasts who love all things related to space or the solar system, this news will be huge for you. Let’s hope it will be a success and happen exactly how NASA scientists have visualized it. Stay tuned on August for this remarkable event!