Question- NASA has recently launched a mission “touch the sun” to explore the corona, named-
(a)Parker solar probe
(b)Voyager
(c)MOM
(d)Spitzer
Answer-(a)
Related facts-
- NASA has launched Parker Solar Probe the world’s first of its kind mission “touch the sun”.It will explore the sun’s atmosphere and its outermost atmosphere, the corona.
- The main goals of this mission are to trace how energy and heat moves through the solar corona and to find what accelerates the solar wind as well as solar energetic particles.
- The corona gives rise to the solar wind, a continuous flow of charged particles that permeates the solar system.
- Solar winds cause disturbances in our planet’s magnetic field and can cause destruction in communications technology on Earth. NASA hopes the findings will enable scientists to forecast changes in Earth’s space environment.
- Launch Date: Aug. 11, 2018
- Launch Site: Space Launch Complex 37, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
- Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket
- Orbital Period: 88 days for final orbits with closest approach
- Mission Duration: Seven-year.
References-
https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/parkersolarprobe_presskit_august2018_final.pdf