Europe to lead daring Sun mission!

Gerald · 10-04-11, 02:17 PM

The probe will orbit closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft.

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.The mission proposal was formally adopted by European Space Agency (Esa) member states on Tuesday.Solar Orbiter is expected to launch in 2017 and will cost close to a billion euros. Nasa (the US space agency) will participate, providing two instruments for the probe and the rocket to send it on its way.The Esa delegates, who were meeting in Paris, also selected a mission to investigate two of the great mysteries of modern cosmology - dark matter and dark energy. Scientists are convinced that these phenomena dominate and shape the Universe but their nature has so far eluded any satisfactory explanation. The discovery in the late 1990s of dark energy and its influence on cosmic expansion was recognised with a Nobel Prize earlier in the day for three scientists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15146082

Note: 4 October 2011 Last updated at 15:08 GMT

Krauter · 10-04-11, 02:25 PM

That's going to be one expensive fizzle..

Jimbuna · 10-04-11, 02:31 PM

Every sun has its nemesis.

Gerald · 10-04-11, 02:55 PM

David C, has invested some of the pension funds, for it to lift,

Penguin · 10-05-11, 05:33 AM

I think they should name the probe Icarus. I also hope that our government volunteers to man it...

TLAM Strike · 10-05-11, 09:03 AM

Leave it to the Europeans to try and land a man on the Sun...

soopaman2 · 10-05-11, 09:20 AM

http://www.windows2universe.org/mercury/statistics.html

It would be closer than the planet Mercury. My worry is circuitry and mechanisms that can't handle the searing heat and radiation. If it could it surely can't endure a long time.

I'm just a moron though not a rocket scientist, but I hope they have this thought out before they waste tens to hundreds of millions on something that will poop out when a 25 cent wire melts.

Look up the Hubble telescope that took the US years to get working right, and only because it was in low earth orbit.

Dowly · 10-05-11, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Leave it to the Europeans to try and land a man on the Sun...

What if it's actually Orange Kool-Aid?

What? You think we've forgotten how you nicked all the cheese from the Moon?!

Osmium Steele · 10-05-11, 09:32 AM

All sytems are set, the mission is a go.

Initial data coming in now.......

Yep, it is really hot!

Well done everyone!! Off to the pub to celebrate!!

Dowly · 10-05-11, 09:38 AM

soopaman2 · 10-05-11, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osmium Steele

All sytems are set, the mission is a go.

Initial data coming in now.......

Yep, it is really hot!

Well done everyone!! Off to the pub to celebrate!!

Pints are on Nasa since we have to rely on the Russians to re-supply our space station.

Garion · 10-05-11, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Leave it to the Europeans to try and land a man on the Sun...

I hear we are sending it up at night to find the dark matter, soo it should be cool enough

Cheers

Garion

Skybird · 10-05-11, 07:11 PM

Finally! EU sees a light at the end of the tunnel!

Torplexed · 10-05-11, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skybird

Finally! EU sees a light at the end of the tunnel!

Yeah. It's called a Supernova.

10-04-11, 02:17 PM	#1
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	Europe to lead daring Sun mission! The probe will orbit closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. 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.The mission proposal was formally adopted by European Space Agency (Esa) member states on Tuesday.Solar Orbiter is expected to launch in 2017 and will cost close to a billion euros. Nasa (the US space agency) will participate, providing two instruments for the probe and the rocket to send it on its way.The Esa delegates, who were meeting in Paris, also selected a mission to investigate two of the great mysteries of modern cosmology - dark matter and dark energy. Scientists are convinced that these phenomena dominate and shape the Universe but their nature has so far eluded any satisfactory explanation. The discovery in the late 1990s of dark energy and its influence on cosmic expansion was recognised with a Nobel Prize earlier in the day for three scientists. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15146082 Note: 4 October 2011 Last updated at 15:08 GMT __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-04-11, 02:31 PM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,500 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Every sun has its nemesis. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-04-11, 02:55 PM	#4
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	David C, has invested some of the pension funds, for it to lift, __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-05-11, 09:03 AM	#6
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	Leave it to the Europeans to try and land a man on the Sun... __________________

10-05-11, 09:20 AM	#7
soopaman2 Der Alte Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 3,316 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	http://www.windows2universe.org/mercury/statistics.html It would be closer than the planet Mercury. My worry is circuitry and mechanisms that can't handle the searing heat and radiation. If it could it surely can't endure a long time. I'm just a moron though not a rocket scientist, but I hope they have this thought out before they waste tens to hundreds of millions on something that will poop out when a 25 cent wire melts. Look up the Hubble telescope that took the US years to get working right, and only because it was in low earth orbit. __________________ If Hitler invaded Hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. -Winston Churchill- The most fascinating man in the world.

10-05-11, 05:33 AM	#5
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	I think they should name the probe Icarus. I also hope that our government volunteers to man it...

10-05-11, 09:32 AM	#9
Osmium Steele Ace of the Deep Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Upper midwest USA Posts: 1,101 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	All sytems are set, the mission is a go. Initial data coming in now....... Yep, it is really hot! Well done everyone!! Off to the pub to celebrate!! __________________ In the month of July of the year 1348, between the feasts of St. Benedict and of St. Swithin, a strange thing came upon England... My U297 build thread

10-05-11, 09:38 AM	#10
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0

10-05-11, 07:11 PM	#13
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,609 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Finally! EU sees a light at the end of the tunnel! __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.