Closest to the Sun

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brandbll

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I was wondering what is the closest a satellite has gotten to the sun. I was also wondering, is there a certain known distance that we can get within the sun before it's known that our satelites will just eventually melt down? Now i know this distance could easily change due to solar flares, but is there a general distance that we know of that is safe for a satellite to get within? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>
 
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vogon13

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IIRC, closest was probably Helios II (back in the seventies) and by monitoring Helios I, Helios II was directed a bit closer to the sun. This was pretty much the limit of it's thermal protection system. Now where this distance lies in regard to Mercury is something I don't recall right now. Probably between Mercury perihelion and aphelion.<br /><br />This becomes relevent because Messenger will be with Mercury even to it's aphelion, so might be new record.<br /><br />Note, Helios missions were launched from earth with Titan IIICs (or something pretty close) and did not utilize gravity swingby of Venus to mod orbit.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>
 
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brandbll

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What kind of exterior metal do these use for those types of missions? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>
 
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vogon13

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Shiny.<br /><br /><br /><br />{wink}<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>
 
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3488

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I thinks its Gold plated, with some kind of thermal blanket.<br /><br />HELIOS 2.<br /><br />Perihelion: 0.29 AU, Aphelion: 1.00 AU.<br /><br />So yes vogon is correct, perihelion was just out side Mercury's Perihelion & is also correct<br />on saying that MESSENGER will beat that.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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Thanx ANdrew, good afternoon and good morning from this end. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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Good Morning to you MeteorWayne, yes it is early afternoon here, bright & sunny.<br /><br />Tonight I will be on Comet Holmes watch again.<br /><br />You are very welcome MeteorWayne.<br /><br />Helios 2 was an interesting mission. Proved that we can approach our Sun fairly closely<br />for research. <br /><br />MESSENGER will pass slightly closer, whilst in Hermcentric orbit, but not by much.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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MeteorWayne

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However, Messenger will be spending a long time there. The thermal considerations must have been a driving force in the design. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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3488

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Absolutely, the thick, but the light weight ceramic Sunshield, has to be pointed very <br />precisely at all times. <br /><br />IIRC even a short spell of direct sunlight either on the instrumentation & / or supporting <br />electronics, will kill it.<br /><br />Solar energy on average is NINE times stronger @ Mercury (does vary somewhat due to <br />Mercury's elliptical orbit) or averages 11,880 Watts per square metre as against a constant <br />of 1,320 Watts on Earth.<br /><br />Scary stuff, if your craft is not pointed properly. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>
 
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rybanis

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I can't help but think of the recent sci-fi movie "Sunshine" when reading this thread <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>
 
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h2ouniverse

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Hi,<br /><br />Solar Orbiter is a mission that will orbit the Sun with a preihelion at 0.22 AU (48 Solar radii).<br />ESA has funded contracts to industry that succeeded this year in developing and testing shields that protect the satellite body, with steady state temperatures beyond 600°C on the front shield. (one full-scale model manufactured and tested)<br />Launch date set to 2015. If mission is approved (under way).<br />http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/area/index.cfm?fareaid=45<br /><br />NASA plans "Solar Probe" even closer. But not decided AFAIK.<br />http://solarprobe.gsfc.nasa.gov/<br /><br />Best regards.
 
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alokmohan

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It will beat messanger.If so I am happy.What is the projectr cost? Excuse me I have forgotten full name of messanger.
 
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chyten

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<b>Helios 2 was an interesting mission. Proved that we can approach our Sun fairly closely <br />for research. <br /><br />MESSENGER will pass slightly closer, whilst in Hermcentric orbit, but not by much. </b><br /><br />At perihelion, won't MESSENGER be in Mercury's shadow for a part of each orbit, and so will have cool-down periods?
 
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MeteorWayne

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Yes, but it might not be better.<br />The heating/cooling cyle probably puts more stress on the craft. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>
 
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