A step from the sun landing: why does not the NASA probe dissolve?

Space temperatures can reach thousands of degrees, though objects can not, at least, become more intense. How can this be? Temperature is the measure of particle velocity, while heat indicates the amount of energy that they transmit. The particles can work very quickly (high temperature), but if the particles are very small, they do not transmit much energy (low heat). Because the cosmos is essentially empty, the probe transfers very few particles.

For example, the temperature of the crown during which PSP flies is extremely high, but the density of the material contained therein is extremely low. Compare inserting the hand into the oven and inserting into a pot of boiling water (do not try it at home!) – you'll keep your hand baked a lot longer and at a much higher temperature than in water. The sun's crown is therefore much rarer, so the probe works with fewer hot particles and less heat.

Therefore, although the PSP flies in the space where the temperature reaches millions of degrees, the heat shield ~ 1400 ° C)

Shield protecting it

Of course, a Thousand and a half degrees of temperature would also be difficult to name just the summer heat. (For comparison, the volcano triggers a lava of 700-1200 ° C. This heat, the PSP is protected by a thermal shield – a thermal protection system (TPS) 2.4 m in diameter and 115 mm d & Thickness that maintains a comfortable temperature of 30 ° C on the other side of the panel).

TPS was developed by John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (USA), and was manufactured by Carbon-Carbon Advanced Technologies using carbon composite foam between two carbon panels. This light insulation on the side facing the sun is covered with white ceramic paints, to reflect more warmth.

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But not all Solar Parker Probe instruments are hiding behind TPS.

The Solar Probe Cup coming out of the SPS heat shield will be one of two instruments whose shield is dangerous. This instrument is what is called a Faraday ship, a sensor to determine the strength and direction of ions and electrons in a solar wind. Because the intensity of the solar atmosphere was extremely high, it was necessary to create unique technologies that ensure the survival of electronics, but also accurate data.

The vessel is made of titanium, zirconium and molybdenum alloys (melt temperature 2349 ° C). The Solar Probe Cup pellets are made of tungsten, the metal having the highest melting point (3422 ° C). Typically, in these chips, grid lines are burned in lasers – but because of the high melting temperatures, they had to acidify them in this case.

Another challenge was the electrical installation – most of the heat dissipated. The team solved this problem by producing wire holders by producing sapphire crystal tubes, while the wire itself was made of niobium.

To test the resistance of the instrument, the researchers had to replicate the heat of the sun in the laboratory. To do this, they used a particle accelerator and specially designed for high temperature IMAX projectors. The projectors repeated the heat of the sun, and the particle accelerator pulled the radiation from the ship to make sure the device captures the particles precisely even under such conditions. And to be perfectly clear if the Solar Probe Cup withstands such a hostile environment, the Odeillo Solar Furnace was used, with 10,000 customizable mirrors concentrated in one spot. "

The Solar Probe Cup test stood and as much as possible the longer it was in the test environment, the more the results were clear." We believe that radiation has eliminated all potential pollutants. Essentially, it's purified, "said SWEAP Instrument at Ann Arbor University, Michigan. Researcher Justinas Kasperis

AFP / Scanpix Photo / Engineers Solar Probe Test Parker

Save Probe Cooling

Heat PSP safety and some more technologies. Energy-efficient photovoltaic panels can overheat without protection. The elements of each approach of the Sun moved in the shadow of the heat shield, so that the intense sunlight will only light up a small segment.

But so close to the Sun, you need more protection. The cooling system of the elements is incredibly simple: a heated capacity to protect the freezer against freezing during the flight, two radiators, aluminum panels for a larger cooling surface and a circulation pump. The power of the cooling system would be sufficient for a medium sized salon, and it would maintain the operating temperature of the device and instruments in the solar heat.

The freezing system will be 3.7 liters of deionized water. Although full of chemical refrigerators, very few can match the water and operate at a temperature between 10 ° C and 125 ° C. To avoid the boiling of water, it will be compressed into the system, which will result in a boiling point greater than 125 ° C.

Another safety problem is the maintenance of the connection with the probe. The biggest part of the trip is the PSP itself which has to think for itself – the probe's signal will last more than 15 minutes, so if something goes wrong, it may be too late to fix a bug [19659002]. to the trajectory of the Sun. Several sides of the smartphone's size sensors are attached to the probe along the shadow of the heat shield. Anyone who has recorded sunlight notifies the central computer and the sensor can adjust its position so that the sensors and other instruments remain safe. All this must be done without human intervention, so the central software has been programmed and carefully checked to make the necessary adjustments to fly.

Link to the Sun

After launch, the PSP probe will determine the position of the sun, will move the heat shield, Continuing the trip for three months, keeping the cold of solar heat and space vacuum.

During the seven mission missions planned, the probe on our star will run 24 times. Whenever he approaches, he takes samples of the solar wind, studies the sun's crown and presents the close-ups of the images of our star – and, in the meantime, he will have a variety of innovative technologies for his cold mind