Parker Solar Probe, Sun’s intense plasma burstunun içinden doğrudan geçer.

The Parker Solar Probe, a NASA spacecraft launched in 2018, is on a mission to study the Sun up close and personal. One of its main objectives is to fly through the Sun’s intense plasma bursts, also known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These CMEs are massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s corona, which can have significant impacts on space weather and Earth’s magnetic environment.

The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and a heat shield that can withstand temperatures of up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 degrees Celsius). This allows the spacecraft to get as close as 3.9 million miles (6.2 million kilometers) to the Sun’s surface, which is about seven times closer than any previous mission.

By flying through the Sun’s intense plasma bursts, the Parker Solar Probe aims to gather valuable data about the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, and the processes that drive the solar wind. The solar wind is a stream of charged particles that flows from the Sun and fills the entire solar system. Understanding the solar wind is crucial for predicting space weather events that can affect satellites, communication systems, and even power grids on Earth.

The spacecraft’s instruments are designed to measure the properties of the solar wind, such as its speed, temperature, and density. They will also study the magnetic fields in the Sun’s atmosphere and observe how they interact with the solar wind. This will provide scientists with a better understanding of the mechanisms behind CMEs and other solar phenomena.

Flying through the Sun’s intense plasma bursts is not without its challenges. The extreme temperatures and intense radiation near the Sun can pose a threat to the spacecraft’s instruments and electronics. To protect itself, the Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a heat shield made of a carbon composite material that is eight feet (2.4 meters) in diameter. This heat shield is designed to keep the spacecraft’s instruments at a comfortable temperature of about 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) even in the scorching heat of the Sun.

In addition to studying the Sun’s plasma bursts, the Parker Solar Probe will also investigate the Sun’s magnetic field and its role in shaping the solar wind. The spacecraft will make multiple close approaches to the Sun over its seven-year mission, gradually getting closer with each pass. This will allow scientists to study the Sun’s atmosphere and its dynamic behavior in unprecedented detail.

The data collected by the Parker Solar Probe will help scientists answer fundamental questions about the Sun and its influence on space weather. It will also provide valuable insights into the physics of plasma and magnetic fields, which are not only important for understanding the Sun but also for studying other astrophysical phenomena, such as stellar explosions and the behavior of galaxies.

In conclusion, the Parker Solar Probe’s mission to fly through the Sun’s intense plasma bursts is a groundbreaking endeavor that will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun and its effects on Earth. By braving the extreme conditions near the Sun, this spacecraft will provide us with invaluable data that will help us better predict and mitigate the impacts of space weather events.