Hi Pat,

We actually have several satellites in space collecting solar images, so in a sense, we already do study the Sun from space. It's important to have telescopes above the Earth's atmosphere so we can view the Sun in wavelengths that don't reach the Earth's surface (e.g., extreme ultraviolet, or EUV). These types of lines allow us to see the disk of the Sun in the hottest temperatures. So, I'm happy staying on Earth but receiving the great data that comes down from the satellites!

Holly

Hi Pat,

I would love to go into space mostly because I think it would be facinating to experience weightlessness and also to view the Earth from another vantage point. I don't know if I would go into space just to study the Sun. Unfortunately, for me, the riskiness of space travel is too high. If it became more routine and less arduous (and less expensive!) I think I would try it.

Best,

Christina

Hi Pat,

I'm actually a magnetospheric physicist, so I don't spend much time studying the Sun. I'm more interested in things like the interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field, the aurora, and the Van Allen radiation belts. There really isn't any advantage to sending humans up into space to study these things, since we have instruments on board satellites and unmanned rockets that do the job just fine. I'm not too sure I would want to spend a whole lot of time in the radiation belts anyway - it probably wouldn't be terribly healthy and I don't think I would come back with mutant superhero powers like the Fantastic 4.

On the other hand, manned space flight was one of the things that got me interested in pursuing a career in science. I went to the U.S. Space Camp back when I was in high school where we trained for a simulated Space Shuttle mission just like the real astronauts do. I think it would be neat to go into orbit to see what the Earth looks like from space and experience weightlessness.

Kris