Parker Solar Probe: How can probe survive temperature -

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Last Post 3/22/2018 2:52 PM by Christina Cohen

Parker Solar Probe: How can probe survive temperature

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Mark

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3/22/2018 11:10 AM
(from webinar): If the Corona temperature is up to 3 million degrees, and the melting point of steel is 2600 degrees, how can the probe survive visiting the corona? Thanks, Mark

Christina Cohen

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3/22/2018 2:52 PM
Hi, This was definitely one of the biggest challenges for the mission! While the temperature of the corona is very high, the density is extremely low, particularly out where Solar Probe will be flying by. Because of this low density the spacecraft will experience an effective temperature (meaning to how high a temperature the spacecraft will be heated) of 'only' 2500 deg F. Still this is plenty hot! Solar Probe's heat shield was invented to handle these very high temperatures and keep the spacecraft and instrumentation behind it from getting any hotter than about room temperature. It is quite an engineering feat! -Christina