Nour Raouafi, project scientist for Parker Solar Probe, dives into the mysteries of the Sun's corona and the challenges of building a spacecraft to withstand extreme temperatures. The podcast explores the innovative solutions for heat protection, the legacy of physicist Eugene Parker, and the encounter with a massive Coronal Mass Ejection near the Sun.
The Parker Solar Probe explores the Sun's corona, a paradoxical puzzle in astrophysics with temperatures exceeding 2 million degrees Fahrenheit.
The probe investigates solar wind and coronal mass ejections, essential phenomena emanating from the Sun's corona.
Deep dives
Exploring the Parker Solar Probe Mission
The Parker Solar Probe mission, spearheaded by NASA, delves into the mysteries surrounding the sun, our neighborhood star. Led by astrophysicist Nora Rauwafi, the mission aims to answer fundamental questions about the sun's composition and behavior. Nora's childhood fascination with the sun and lack of answers about its properties fueled his journey into space physics. Through advanced spacecraft and innovative technology, like the Parker Solar Probe, NASA aims to uncover unprecedented insights into the sun's core, atmosphere, and solar activity.
Unveiling the Sun's Enigmatic Structure
Contrary to popular belief, the sun is not a fiery ball but a colossal sphere primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. Its core, emerging with 27 million degrees Fahrenheit heat, generates light and heat through nuclear fusion. Moving outward, the temperature decreases, leading to the photosphere with 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun's outer layer, the corona, baffles scientists with its temperature exceeding 2 million degrees Fahrenheit, a paradoxical puzzle in astrophysics.
Deciphering Solar Wind and Corona Dynamics
The Parker Solar Probe delves into understanding solar wind and coronal mass ejections, crucial phenomena emanating from the sun's corona. Solar wind, a stream of charged particles emerging from the corona, perplexes scientists due to its accelerating speeds and unknown energy source. Additionally, coronal mass ejections, high-energy solar outbursts, pose potential space weather hazards, prompting detailed investigations by the probe.
Reflecting on Eugene Parker's Pioneering Legacy
Eugene Parker's groundbreaking research on solar wind theory, initially met with skepticism, revolutionized solar physics. His theoretical predictions were confirmed when the Mariner II spacecraft detected the solar wind during the 1962 Venus mission. Parker's enduring contributions to space science, including coining the term 'solar wind,' epitomize NASA's commitment to honoring and continuing his impactful legacy through missions like the Parker Solar Probe.
For the first time, a NASA spacecraft is flying through the Sun's atmosphere. Nour Raouafi, project scientist for Parker Solar Probe, explains why the Sun's corona is the source of one of the biggest mysteries in all of space science. So, what does it take to build a probe that can touch the Sun—including surviving temperatures of 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and barreling through sudden eruptions of solar plasma—and live to tell the tale? We'll also go inside the fleet of NASA spacecraft studying the Sun from many angles, including the rescue mission to save a wildly spinning observatory before it became lost in space forever.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode