Parker Solar: NASA Releases New Details on Probe That Will Orbit the Sun

Last week, new details were revealed about Parker Solar Probe, NASA's space probe to be launched in August to orbit the sun. The SlashGear portal has revealed details about the structure of the spacecraft and, most curiously, what the resources will be for that it remains protected and works in perfect condition even under high temperatures.

Amazingly, a layer of foam just 11.4 centimeters thick will be almost enough for Parker Solar to stand up to the sun's heat. It sounds simple, but the secret is in the composition of the protective material: a carbon-pressed carbon composite. high technology capable of keeping the inside of the probe operating at a temperature of 29.4 ° C.

The solution was named by NASA Thermal Protection System (TPS) and consists of two panels attached to each side of the ship, which will be complemented by an extra layer of material to reflect sunlight. The probe, which is shaped like a hexagon and weighs only 72.5 kilos, will be exposed to temperatures up to 1, 300 ° C.

Other factors, such as electromagnetic radiation, which affects the operation of electronic equipment, have also been a challenge for Parker Solar's development, but according to NASA, the biggest problem has always been the exposure of the probe to heat - an issue that is solved thanks to the Thermal Protection System.

An unprecedented mission

No other NASA mission has come as close to the solar surface as the Parker Solar project plans. The spacecraft is expected to be only 6 million kilometers from the Sun, which will allow researchers to collect data about the star's magnetic field and, among other things, better understand the development of solar storms.

Interestingly, Parker Solar is a more realistic (and workable) version of Icarus II, a spaceship created in 2007 for Donny Boyle's movie "Sunshine: Solar Alert" - which happened to have NASA consultancy. If all goes as expected, Parker Solar will take off next month. The trip, however, is a long one: the spacecraft should only get close to the sun around December 2024.

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Parker Solar: NASA Releases New Details on Probe That Will Orbit the Sun via TecMundo