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Space & Astronomy

ESA planning ambitious mission to the Sun

By T.K. Randall
October 5, 2011 · Comment icon 11 comments



Image Credit: ESA
The European Space Agency will send a spacecraft to within 42 million km of our star.
Known as Solar Orbiter, the probe will cost almost 1 billion Euros and launch in 2017. It will spend time collecting data about the Sun's magnetic fields and energetic particles at temperatures of over 500 degrees. "Solar Orbiter is not so much about taking high-resolution pictures of the Sun, although we'll get those; it's about getting close and joining up what happens on the Sun with what happens in space," said lead scientist Tim Horbury.
Europe is to lead the most ambitious space mission ever undertaken to study the behaviour of the Sun. Known as Solar Orbiter, the probe will have to operate a mere 42 million km from our star - closer than any spacecraft to date.


Source: BBC News | Comments (11)




Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #2 Posted by Muenzenhamster 12 years ago
That's a really good one, Offeiriad! I needed that today.
Comment icon #3 Posted by Xanthurion2 12 years ago
crazy esa and their wacky antics (i'm just kidding, i've never heard of the esa...but it makes sense that europe would have a space agency, i mean, who doesn't?)
Comment icon #4 Posted by Jim Crow 12 years ago
America Doesn't anymore.
Comment icon #5 Posted by BiffSplitkins 12 years ago
I can save them billions of dollars from studying this. Here is my report: It's hot... very hot. Do I qualify for any grant money now?
Comment icon #6 Posted by Xanthurion2 12 years ago
America Doesn't anymore. i'm pretty sure NASA is still active. they just stopped using the same model of rockets. that's all i heard about it anyway.
Comment icon #7 Posted by Blackwhite 12 years ago
Europe should be more concerned with trying to help the struggling Eurozone.
Comment icon #8 Posted by ~C.S.M~ 12 years ago
Europe should be more concerned with trying to help the struggling Eurozone. and what has that to do with space and ESA?
Comment icon #9 Posted by Nuke_em 12 years ago
Well i'm just happy is EUROPEAN mission, dont know why we need US bogus onboard, but hey they have a crisis too.
Comment icon #10 Posted by ~C.S.M~ 12 years ago
Well i'm just happy is EUROPEAN mission, dont know why we need US bogus onboard, but hey they have a crisis too. what do you mean with bogus?
Comment icon #11 Posted by DONTEATUS 12 years ago
Im still looking at the sun through my rolled up dollar bill and all I see is a bright spot when I sleep !


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