Both the Kwafu and Parker probes are robots used by humans to study the sun. The Sun is one of the most important celestial bodies in our solar system, and it not only provides light and heat to the Earth, but also has an impact on the entire solar system. As a result, scientists have been exploring the nature and behavior of the sun.
The Parker probe is a NASA probe launched in 2018 with a mission to get close to the Sun and make observations at a distance of about 64 million kilometers from the Sun's surface. The Parker probe needs to fly fast to escape the sun's gravitational pull and remain stable in the process. It flies 190 kilometers per second, which is the fastest of any human-built flying machine. Since the proximity to the Sun is subjected to very high temperatures, reaching several million degrees Celsius, special thermal insulation materials are required to protect the detectors.
The Kuafu-1 solar exploration satellite was launched by the China National Space Administration in 2018 to study the sun's magnetic field, flares, and interactions with the Earth. The Kwafu-1 satellite can observe solar radiation and plasma, and monitor solar activity in real time. It can also collect relevant data such as the solar wind, which is important for understanding the formation and evolution of the solar system and its impact on the Earth.
The mission of the Kwafu and Parker probes is to provide scientists with more data and information about the Sun to help us better understand the cosmic environment in which we live.
When scientists used the Parker probe to photograph the Sun's sphere, they focused on several important parts of the Sun's atmosphere: the corona, the chromosphere, and the photosphere.
Corona: The corona is the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere, showing a radial structure with very high temperatures of millions of degrees. Through the observation and photography of the solar corona, scientists can understand the structure, activity and magnetic field distribution of the solar corona. The corona is also an important area for the formation of the solar wind, which has an impact on the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere.
chromosphere: The chromosphere is part of the sun's atmosphere, located between the photosphere and the corona. The chromosphere is an easily observed part of the Sun's atmosphere, and it is mainly composed of elements such as hydrogen and calcium. By observing the characteristics and activities of chromospheres, scientists can understand the temperature structure of the sun's atmosphere, the movement of matter, and the process of energy release.
Photosphere: The photosphere is the lowest and most observable part of the Sun's atmosphere, the surface of the Sun. The photosphere exhibits many tiny black spots, which are sunspots and are associated with solar cycles. Through the observation and photographing of photospheres, scientists can study the formation mechanism of sunspots and the periodic changes in solar activity.
By photographing different regions of the Sun, and analyzing and studying these, scientists can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the structure, activity, and effects of the Sun's atmosphere, which can provide important references and protections for Earth's climate, communication systems, satellites, and space exploration. The mission of the Parker probe includes helping scientists delve deeper into the Sun's atmosphere and promote knowledge and understanding of the solar system by photographing the Sun's first image.
The thermal insulation of the Parker detector uses a method called"thermal protection system"(thermal protection system) of advanced materials, this material is called"carbon-carbon composite"(Carbon-carbon composites).
Carbon-carbon composites are a very special material that consists of pure carbon fiber and carbon-based resin. It has several key properties that allow it to withstand high temperature challenges and provide excellent thermal insulation:
High-temperature stability: Carbon-to-carbon composites have excellent high-temperature stability, enabling them to maintain structural integrity and performance in extremely high-temperature environments. This is because carbon fiber itself has a high melting point and low thermal conductivity, as well as carbon-based resins that have good heat resistance.
Low thermal conductivity: Carbon-carbon composites have very low thermal conductivity, which can effectively isolate and block the transfer of heat. This means that when the Parker detector is exposed to the sun's high temperature radiation, the insulation prevents excessive heat from entering the detector's interior, keeping the operating temperature of the internal instruments and equipment within a safe range.
Lightweight and high-strength: Carbon-carbon composites have excellent lightweight, high-strength properties, and are lighter in weight but have higher strength and stiffness than traditional metal materials. This allows the insulation layer not only to provide effective thermal isolation, but also to reduce the weight load on the entire detector.
By using carbon-carbon composites as thermal insulation for Parker detectors, scientists can ensure safe operation of detectors in extremely hot environments and protect vital instruments and equipment inside from overheating. The application of this advanced material allows the Parker probe to approach the surface of the Sun directly to observe and study the Sun's atmosphere, providing valuable data and insights for scientific research in areas such as solar physics and space weather**.
The Parker probe is named after solar physicist Eugene Parker, whose work proved the existence of the solar wind, a discovery that had a significant impact on the understanding of the Sun and the solar system.
In the past, scientists generally believed that space was a vacuum and no matter existed. However, Eugene Parker changed this view in his research in the late 50s and early 60s of the 20th century. By observing the sun's activity and collecting data, he discovered that the sun releases a large number of charged particles, forming a high-speed flowing gas known as the solar wind.
Parker's research reveals the important influence of the solar wind on the solar system. The solar wind not only affects the movement of planets and other celestial bodies within the solar system, but also interacts with the Earth's magnetosphere, resulting in phenomena such as auroras. In addition, the solar wind plays a key role in the propagation of cosmic rays and the formation of the planet's magnetosphere.
In order to delve into the solar wind and its effects on the Earth and the solar system, NASA decided to launch a probe and named it the Parker Probe in honor of Eugene Parker's outstanding contributions to solar physics. The Parker probe was successfully launched in 2018 and became the first man-made probe to fly to the Sun. It will fly near the Sun's solar surface, collect data and provide more information about the solar wind and solar activity, helping scientists better understand the mysteries of the Sun and the solar system.
The solar wind is a high-velocity gas stream composed of charged particles released by the sun, and its formation mechanism and impact on the earth have always been a hot topic for scientists to study.
The formation of the solar wind mainly originates from the outer atmosphere of the Sun, which is the corona. In the corona's high temperatures, the Sun's atmospheric material moves at extremely high speeds and is affected by the Sun's magnetic field. These charged particles moving at high speed eventually escape the sun's gravitational field, forming the solar wind. The solar wind ejects from the surface of the sun and travels through the entire solar system, affecting planets such as the Earth.
The influence of the solar wind on the earth is mainly manifested in several aspects: first, the charged particles in the solar wind will interact with the earth's magnetic field, resulting in beautiful astronomical phenomena such as the aurora. Second, energetic particles in the solar wind can cause damage to spacecraft and satellites, and even affect electronic equipment and communication systems on Earth. In addition, the solar wind can also affect the Earth's atmosphere, change the ionization state in the atmosphere, affect radio communications, etc.
Through observations and simulations, scientists continue to explore the formation mechanism of the solar wind and its specific impact on the Earth to better understand the impact of solar activity on our lives and technologies. This research is of great significance for space weather forecasting, spacecraft design, and the protection of the Earth's environment, so it has always been an area of continuous attention and in-depth research by the scientific community.
The Kuafu-1 solar exploration satellite is a satellite developed by China to observe solar activity. Its mission is to study the Sun's magnetic field, flares (sudden bright light on the Sun's surface), and coronal mass ejections and interactions.
The Sun is an active star with a strong magnetic field on its surface and frequent phenomena such as flares. The Kwafu-1 satellite can monitor the Sun's activities in real time by carrying a variety of scientific instruments, including observing changes in the Sun's magnetic field, recording the occurrence of flares, and studying the ejection process of coronal material and its interaction with the surrounding environment.
Through the monitoring and study of solar activity, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of the internal operating mechanism and energy release process of the sun, thereby improving the ability to respond to phenomena such as solar wind and coronal mass ejection. This is of great significance to the communication system, satellite navigation and space exploration missions on Earth, and can help us better protect the safety of the Earth and human activities in space.
The launch of the Kuafu-1 solar exploration satellite marks China's important progress in the field of solar physics research and has also made positive contributions to global solar science research. Through solar exploration satellite projects like this, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of solar activity on the Earth and the space environment, laying the foundation for future solar scientific research.