A space probe to the sun?

Courtesy of William The Coroner, we're directed to this article in Air & Space Magazine.

It seems that NASA is at last considering sending a space probe to the Sun to analyze its corona and outer layers. By "slingshotting" it around planets it would make ten or eleven "close" passes to the Sun, radioing back information, before the heat finally grew too great and melted it.

Fascinating! The Sun is the ultimate physical reason for our existence, and that of the entire Solar System: yet we still know so little about it (including its importance - or otherwise - as a factor in the current global warming and/or cooling controversy). I imagine there'll be all sorts of engineering problems involved, but I hope the scientists and engineers can overcome them, find the necessary funding and send this probe on its way.

We might even be able to send some of our ditzier and less desirable Hollywood brat pack starlets on the mission. All we have to do is advertise it as the world's most advanced solar tanning capsule . . . "tan in a flash", as it were!



Peter