Solar Probe: Humanity's first visit to a star

D. J. McComas, M. Velli, W. S. Lewis, L. W. Acton, M. Balat-Pichelin, V. Bothmer, R. B. Dirliag, D. A. Eng, W. C. Feldman, G. Gloeckler, M. Guhathakurta, S. R. Habba, D. M. Hassler, I. Mann, H. M. Maldonado, W. H. Matthaeus, R. L. McNntt, R. A. Mewaldt, N. Murphy, L. OfmanK. A. Potocki, E. C. Sittler, C. W. Smith, T. H. Zurbuchen

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Solar Probe will be a historic first mission, flying into one of the last unexplored regions of the solar system, the Sun's atmosphere or corona. Approaching as close as 3 RS above the Sun's surface, Solar Probe will employ a combination of in-situ measurements and close-up imaging to achieve the mission's primary scientific goal: to understand how the Sun's corona is heated and how the solar wind is accelerated. Solar Probe will revolutionize our knowledge of the origin and evolution of the solar wind. Moreover, by making the only direct, in-situ measurements of the region where some of the deadliest solar energetic particles are energized, Solar Probe will make unique and fundamental contributions to our ability to characterize and forecast the radiation environment in which future space explorers will work and live.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)279-286
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Space Agency, (Special Publication) ESA SP
Issue number592
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes
EventSolar Wind 11/SOHO 16 - Connecting Sun and Heliosphere - Whistler, Canada
Duration: Jun 12 2005Jun 17 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

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