Understanding the Parker Solar Probe

The Parker Solar Probe, launched by a Delta IV heavy rocket, aims to study the Sun's corona by flying closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. The mission, inspired by Eugene Parker's prediction of solar wind, seeks to solve the mystery of the corona's extreme temperatures. The probe is equipped with a heat shield to withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. It has made historic passes through the Sun's outer atmosphere, providing valuable data on solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These CMEs can affect Earth's atmosphere and power systems, and the probe's data will help predict and understand these events.

What is the primary mission of the Parker Solar Probe?

• To explore the outer planets

• To fly closer to the Sun than any spacecraft in history

• To land on the Moon

• To study the Earth's atmosphere

Who predicted the solar wind, which is related to the Parker Solar Probe's mission?

• Isaac Newton

• Eugene Parker

• Albert Einstein

• Galileo Galilei

What is the temperature difference between the Sun's surface and its corona?

• The corona is much hotter than the surface

• The corona is cooler than the surface

• The surface is hotter than the corona

• Both have the same temperature

How thick is the heat shield on the Parker Solar Probe?

• Four and a half inches

• One inch

• Two inches

• Ten inches

What record did the Parker Solar Probe break in 2021?

• Most distant spacecraft from Earth

• Longest mission duration

• First spacecraft to touch the Sun

• Fastest spacecraft

What is the significance of the Parker Solar Probe flying through the corona?

• It helps in mapping the surface of the Sun

• It is a mission to find new planets

• It allows for the collection of data on solar wind and energy flow

• It is a test of spacecraft durability

What are coronal mass ejections (CMEs)?

• Small solar flares

• Massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields

• Regular solar cycles

• Minor disturbances in the Sun's atmosphere

How can CMEs affect Earth?

• They can change the Earth's orbit

• They can cause earthquakes

• They can increase global temperatures

• They can disrupt power lines and cause blackouts

What is one of the goals of the Parker Solar Probe in relation to CMEs?

• To eliminate the effects of CMEs on Earth

• To prevent CMEs from occurring

• To predict when CMEs will happen

• To increase the frequency of CMEs

What is the ultimate benefit of the Parker Solar Probe's mission?

• To improve solar panel technology

• To enhance our understanding of the Sun and stars

• To develop new spacecraft materials

• To find extraterrestrial life