WEBVTT FILE 1 00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:08.160 well welcome and thanks for joining us 2 00:00:04.380 --> 00:00:09.900 to the NASA sunset show we are coming to 3 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:15.450 you live from NASA's Kennedy Space 4 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:17.070 Center Florida well in a few hours one 5 00:00:15.450 --> 00:00:20.310 of the greatest missions in history will 6 00:00:17.070 --> 00:00:23.789 take place a mission to touch the Sun 7 00:00:20.310 --> 00:00:26.789 all systems are go launch is scheduled 8 00:00:23.789 --> 00:00:29.250 for 333 a.m. Eastern we've got lots of 9 00:00:26.789 --> 00:00:31.619 coffee we've got lots of energy and we 10 00:00:29.250 --> 00:00:34.290 are ready my name is Duane Brown and I 11 00:00:31.619 --> 00:00:39.079 am Karen Fox and the star of the show 12 00:00:34.290 --> 00:00:42.180 the Sun get it because the Sun is a star 13 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:45.149 that's true it's a star the Sun is about 14 00:00:42.180 --> 00:00:47.280 to set and we are getting ready here for 15 00:00:45.149 --> 00:00:48.960 that lunch and we have been talking 16 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.160 about this on the last few days and how 17 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:55.620 Parker Solar Probe is going to go 18 00:00:50.160 --> 00:00:58.980 straight to the Sun okay I know I care 19 00:00:55.620 --> 00:01:00.420 so when you look up at the Sun and look 20 00:00:58.980 --> 00:01:02.820 up at the Sun with safety glasses 21 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:04.920 remember those Eclipse glasses we have 22 00:01:02.820 --> 00:01:06.930 some I hope you guys have something it 23 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:08.280 looks calm and looks tranquil but when 24 00:01:06.930 --> 00:01:11.369 we get close up with our space 25 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:14.130 telescopes it's dancing it's dynamic its 26 00:01:11.369 --> 00:01:15.689 fury it's mad it's going a lot and when 27 00:01:14.130 --> 00:01:18.150 it's doing all of this is sending out 28 00:01:15.689 --> 00:01:20.790 solar particles all throughout the solar 29 00:01:18.150 --> 00:01:23.880 system and these solar particles they go 30 00:01:20.790 --> 00:01:25.350 out they are affecting planetary 31 00:01:23.880 --> 00:01:26.820 atmospheres they can create space 32 00:01:25.350 --> 00:01:29.180 weather near earth where they can 33 00:01:26.820 --> 00:01:31.650 interfere with GPS and radio 34 00:01:29.180 --> 00:01:33.689 communications and so this is something 35 00:01:31.650 --> 00:01:36.299 that NASA wants to learn about and it 36 00:01:33.689 --> 00:01:37.770 also this mission will help with our 37 00:01:36.299 --> 00:01:40.530 astronauts astronauts up at the 38 00:01:37.770 --> 00:01:42.659 International Space Station when they go 39 00:01:40.530 --> 00:01:43.860 to the moon we're going back to the moon 40 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:46.530 ladies and gentlemen and of course 41 00:01:43.860 --> 00:01:48.560 eventually to Mars all of this and much 42 00:01:46.530 --> 00:01:52.320 much more we're gonna have a great show 43 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:56.159 we've got some incredible talent oh my 44 00:01:52.320 --> 00:01:59.340 goodness and you need to send your 45 00:01:56.159 --> 00:02:03.210 questions in the hashtag ask NASA social 46 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:04.920 media is abuzz hashtag ask NASA we're 47 00:02:03.210 --> 00:02:08.849 gonna get to as many questions as we can 48 00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:13.460 and we are ready you send those 49 00:02:08.849 --> 00:02:18.150 questions in again hashtag ask NASA 50 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:20.700 alright let us get started we have dr. 51 00:02:18.150 --> 00:02:23.130 Johnny cada Vega here with us she is a 52 00:02:20.700 --> 00:02:24.270 space scientist from NASA's Goddard 53 00:02:23.130 --> 00:02:27.690 Space Flight Center in Greenbelt 54 00:02:24.270 --> 00:02:30.690 Maryland but you know what I gotta say 55 00:02:27.690 --> 00:02:33.120 this I'm sorry Johnny the last time we 56 00:02:30.690 --> 00:02:34.740 were on stage together it was last year 57 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.500 for the total solar eclipse across 58 00:02:34.740 --> 00:02:38.940 America you guys I hope you saw that if 59 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:39.480 not it's on YouTube it's on everything 60 00:02:38.940 --> 00:02:41.970 thing else 61 00:02:39.480 --> 00:02:43.890 NASA YouTube it's so good to see you 62 00:02:41.970 --> 00:02:46.050 it's good to see you too I know you're 63 00:02:43.890 --> 00:02:48.870 excited I know I'm excited I am 64 00:02:46.050 --> 00:02:50.910 I am very M it's really good to have you 65 00:02:48.870 --> 00:02:52.500 here thank you for having me start off 66 00:02:50.910 --> 00:02:54.420 by just telling us what space weather it 67 00:02:52.500 --> 00:02:56.040 is space weather is pretty much the 68 00:02:54.420 --> 00:02:58.740 conditions out in space that are 69 00:02:56.040 --> 00:03:00.690 dominated by the Sun like doing say the 70 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:02.460 Sun from Earth is very quiet but when 71 00:03:00.690 --> 00:03:04.530 you look at it from space it's actually 72 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.960 very dynamic it creates a solar storm 73 00:03:04.530 --> 00:03:09.660 since forms of solar flares abrupt 74 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:11.610 eruptions of radiation or CMEs coronal 75 00:03:09.660 --> 00:03:13.440 mass ejections which are expulsion of 76 00:03:11.610 --> 00:03:16.320 billions of particles from the solar 77 00:03:13.440 --> 00:03:17.820 corona when these storms actually arrive 78 00:03:16.320 --> 00:03:19.770 on earth they can cause you know 79 00:03:17.820 --> 00:03:21.270 instabilities on the earth environment 80 00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:23.040 some people see this kind of 81 00:03:21.270 --> 00:03:25.290 instabilities in the form of Aurora's 82 00:03:23.040 --> 00:03:26.670 but when that's happened that means 83 00:03:25.290 --> 00:03:29.580 there's a lot of the magnetic field is 84 00:03:26.670 --> 00:03:31.650 very disturbed Parker is an essential 85 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:34.140 mission for us to understand this kind 86 00:03:31.650 --> 00:03:35.970 of activity and it's gonna go straight 87 00:03:34.140 --> 00:03:41.280 to the corner where this originated so 88 00:03:35.970 --> 00:03:43.530 we can understand it better well you 89 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:44.400 know I'm just I'm just so excited that 90 00:03:43.530 --> 00:03:46.260 you're here 91 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.540 IATI but you know the conditions on the 92 00:03:46.260 --> 00:03:50.070 Sun are always changing you know when we 93 00:03:48.540 --> 00:03:52.290 did the Eclipse I learned so much about 94 00:03:50.070 --> 00:03:55.410 the Sun but how does all this affect 95 00:03:52.290 --> 00:03:57.780 life here on earth it can affect a 96 00:03:55.410 --> 00:03:59.519 really really directly it can affect 97 00:03:57.780 --> 00:04:01.410 astronauts in space the radiation from 98 00:03:59.519 --> 00:04:02.970 the Sun and it can actually affect also 99 00:04:01.410 --> 00:04:04.110 satellites the instruments from the 100 00:04:02.970 --> 00:04:06.690 satellites that we use for our 101 00:04:04.110 --> 00:04:08.970 technology radar communications GPS 102 00:04:06.690 --> 00:04:10.430 signal it can actually affect everything 103 00:04:08.970 --> 00:04:13.380 that we use for our technology nowadays 104 00:04:10.430 --> 00:04:15.600 so Parker is gonna be essential for us 105 00:04:13.380 --> 00:04:17.880 to understand this processes it's gonna 106 00:04:15.600 --> 00:04:19.890 go straight to the corona and with that 107 00:04:17.880 --> 00:04:21.780 data that Park is gonna collect we can 108 00:04:19.890 --> 00:04:24.270 actually validate and actually improve 109 00:04:21.780 --> 00:04:25.560 our models that we use for the space 110 00:04:24.270 --> 00:04:27.630 weather forecasting 111 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:29.520 Wow so this mission is very important it 112 00:04:27.630 --> 00:04:31.110 is very important and it impacts just 113 00:04:29.520 --> 00:04:33.900 about everybody on the planet everybody 114 00:04:31.110 --> 00:04:36.720 every society there you go this mission 115 00:04:33.900 --> 00:04:38.550 is definitely something for you to learn 116 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:42.000 about and do more about because it 117 00:04:38.550 --> 00:04:43.230 affects every living person on earth so 118 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:45.980 we have our first question that's 119 00:04:43.230 --> 00:04:48.870 already come in for you you re tell us 120 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:50.639 question is what happens if Parker Solar 121 00:04:48.870 --> 00:04:52.889 Probe flies through some of these space 122 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:54.450 weather events near the Sun well that 123 00:04:52.889 --> 00:04:56.850 will be very interesting to have and 124 00:04:54.450 --> 00:05:00.300 actually Parker is a engineer Marvel is 125 00:04:56.850 --> 00:05:02.100 actually made of to actually you know be 126 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:07.350 protected from this kind of radiation it 127 00:05:02.100 --> 00:05:09.180 has a 4.5 inch heat shield that is 128 00:05:07.350 --> 00:05:11.190 actually gonna protect the instruments 129 00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:12.630 for in this kind of radiation and this 130 00:05:11.190 --> 00:05:14.280 heat shields gonna be amazing it's 131 00:05:12.630 --> 00:05:18.030 actually the one that is on the side of 132 00:05:14.280 --> 00:05:19.560 the Sun it's gonna be a 2,500 degrees 133 00:05:18.030 --> 00:05:21.030 Fahrenheit but the side on the 134 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.010 instruments gonna be actually at room 135 00:05:21.030 --> 00:05:24.960 temperature so it's an amazing thing and 136 00:05:23.010 --> 00:05:26.940 it hopefully will get really good data 137 00:05:24.960 --> 00:05:29.610 that we actually need with this kind of 138 00:05:26.940 --> 00:05:30.720 activity thank you so much we are 139 00:05:29.610 --> 00:05:33.630 actually going to keep taking your 140 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:36.330 questions you can use the hashtag ask 141 00:05:33.630 --> 00:05:38.700 NASA for that we will continue to take 142 00:05:36.330 --> 00:05:41.190 them throughout the show and you can 143 00:05:38.700 --> 00:05:44.910 also get updates on Parker Solar Probe 144 00:05:41.190 --> 00:05:47.700 at nasa.gov slash Parker and of course 145 00:05:44.910 --> 00:05:50.760 most importantly we want you to be get 146 00:05:47.700 --> 00:05:52.400 ready to watch this launch our TV 147 00:05:50.760 --> 00:05:55.650 coverage will start at 3:00 a.m. 148 00:05:52.400 --> 00:05:57.690 tomorrow morning that's just in a very 149 00:05:55.650 --> 00:06:01.800 few hours and you can watch that at 150 00:05:57.690 --> 00:06:03.810 nasa.gov slash live well you know we've 151 00:06:01.800 --> 00:06:05.280 got another person join us but I believe 152 00:06:03.810 --> 00:06:07.260 I think we're going to go you know this 153 00:06:05.280 --> 00:06:11.310 is a big mission and a big mission needs 154 00:06:07.260 --> 00:06:16.320 a big rocket and we have a big rocket 155 00:06:11.310 --> 00:06:18.240 yeah we do Launch alliances heavy delta 156 00:06:16.320 --> 00:06:20.310 heavy delta 4 heavy i better get that 157 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:22.680 right because there's nothing for heavy 158 00:06:20.310 --> 00:06:25.710 but it's big it's going to light up 159 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:27.330 tonight and you know what else another 160 00:06:25.710 --> 00:06:29.610 person lights up tonight the sitting is 161 00:06:27.330 --> 00:06:32.550 right now that's dr. Nikki Fox we have a 162 00:06:29.610 --> 00:06:34.050 stall but she is our super star here so 163 00:06:32.550 --> 00:06:36.810 the project scientists for this 164 00:06:34.050 --> 00:06:39.180 incredible mission thank you very much 165 00:06:36.810 --> 00:06:39.449 and yes our Delta Fool has just been the 166 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:41.909 building 167 00:06:39.449 --> 00:06:44.279 just been rolled out and she is sitting 168 00:06:41.909 --> 00:06:47.340 on the pad ready to take us to space a 169 00:06:44.279 --> 00:06:50.490 big mission a big rocket mix science 170 00:06:47.340 --> 00:06:52.949 what is it big science so pakka Solar 171 00:06:50.490 --> 00:06:55.979 Probe is gonna make huge differences in 172 00:06:52.949 --> 00:06:57.270 our science we've done so much with the 173 00:06:55.979 --> 00:06:59.430 Sun from looking at it with all 174 00:06:57.270 --> 00:07:01.379 different wavelengths with spacecraft in 175 00:06:59.430 --> 00:07:04.229 the solar wind even as close in as 176 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:07.259 mercury but really by the time they get 177 00:07:04.229 --> 00:07:09.330 to see the solar wind it's old it's it's 178 00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:12.389 had all this excitement and it's it's 179 00:07:09.330 --> 00:07:14.490 more much more average and so we have to 180 00:07:12.389 --> 00:07:16.409 get into this region to finally be able 181 00:07:14.490 --> 00:07:19.650 to unlock the mysteries of what is going 182 00:07:16.409 --> 00:07:20.969 on with our star so I want to go further 183 00:07:19.650 --> 00:07:22.439 into that because the solar wind is 184 00:07:20.969 --> 00:07:24.300 frankly is the theme of our show today 185 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.680 right now a solar wind it is filling up 186 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:34.020 space it's affecting earth that's what 187 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:37.050 we're talking about so why so the corona 188 00:07:34.020 --> 00:07:38.759 is full of mysteries and you really 189 00:07:37.050 --> 00:07:40.289 can't unlock those mysteries without 190 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:43.020 getting the in-situ data without 191 00:07:40.289 --> 00:07:45.210 actually going up and visiting all this 192 00:07:43.020 --> 00:07:47.490 amazing physics is happening the corona 193 00:07:45.210 --> 00:07:49.680 is 300 times hotter than the surface of 194 00:07:47.490 --> 00:07:51.990 the Sun its atmosphere is continually 195 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:53.939 expanding and accelerating and streaming 196 00:07:51.990 --> 00:07:56.069 away bathing all the planets and in fact 197 00:07:53.939 --> 00:08:00.060 shaping our entire solar system in its 198 00:07:56.069 --> 00:08:02.639 journey around the galaxy we have to get 199 00:08:00.060 --> 00:08:05.099 in there to really get those physics Y 200 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:07.080 and earth do you move away from the 201 00:08:05.099 --> 00:08:08.969 surface of a hot body and get hotter it 202 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:11.039 doesn't make sense it's like water 203 00:08:08.969 --> 00:08:13.349 flowing uphill it shouldn't happen and 204 00:08:11.039 --> 00:08:15.120 so all this physics is happening but we 205 00:08:13.349 --> 00:08:16.770 need to get in there to really be able 206 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:18.449 to take those measurements and so that's 207 00:08:16.770 --> 00:08:21.240 why we are doing this incredibly daring 208 00:08:18.449 --> 00:08:24.569 mission to surf the Sun's corona you 209 00:08:21.240 --> 00:08:26.279 know dr. Fox jadi was here talking about 210 00:08:24.569 --> 00:08:27.719 space where the Harz pocket is going to 211 00:08:26.279 --> 00:08:30.089 help us understand that even better 212 00:08:27.719 --> 00:08:32.099 because a lot of people we hear about it 213 00:08:30.089 --> 00:08:34.589 and it's so important it affects a lot 214 00:08:32.099 --> 00:08:36.990 of stuff absolutely and so we do a very 215 00:08:34.589 --> 00:08:39.060 good job of predicting you know we see 216 00:08:36.990 --> 00:08:40.079 something happen on the Sun and we say 217 00:08:39.060 --> 00:08:41.969 well this is probably what's gonna 218 00:08:40.079 --> 00:08:43.829 happen here at Earth and we have models 219 00:08:41.969 --> 00:08:45.720 large scale models and if you think of 220 00:08:43.829 --> 00:08:47.790 taking the Sun and the earth is one big 221 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:50.250 model there's a big missing piece in 222 00:08:47.790 --> 00:08:52.470 that model the physics that's driving 223 00:08:50.250 --> 00:08:53.070 and powering the solar wind we don't 224 00:08:52.470 --> 00:08:54.959 know 225 00:08:53.070 --> 00:08:57.120 exactly what physics that is we don't 226 00:08:54.959 --> 00:08:59.970 know what processes are going on and 227 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:02.100 when we add that to the already good 228 00:08:59.970 --> 00:09:09.079 models we have it's just going to be 229 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:11.550 game-changing the question is if 230 00:09:09.079 --> 00:09:14.639 millions of miles from the Sun surface 231 00:09:11.550 --> 00:09:16.380 what part of the Sun is it touching so 232 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:18.110 it's touching the Sun's corona it is 233 00:09:16.380 --> 00:09:21.149 deep in the Sun's corona 234 00:09:18.110 --> 00:09:23.069 yes at 3.8 three million miles that may 235 00:09:21.149 --> 00:09:25.920 not sound that close but if we put the 236 00:09:23.069 --> 00:09:27.600 Earth and the Sun one meter apart parka 237 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:30.149 Solar Probe would be four centimeters 238 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.709 from the Sun and so not touching the 239 00:09:30.149 --> 00:09:34.199 surface of the Sun obviously there is no 240 00:09:31.709 --> 00:09:36.779 solid surface to actually touch but 241 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:39.899 touching deep into the atmosphere of the 242 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:41.730 star as it as it emanates away I got it 243 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:43.529 you know the four centimeters now I'm a 244 00:09:41.730 --> 00:09:45.839 big football fan football season is 245 00:09:43.529 --> 00:09:48.240 around the corner I heard an analogy 246 00:09:45.839 --> 00:09:52.019 about the Gold Line and you know that's 247 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:54.990 Oak Park yeah put the earth in one goal 248 00:09:52.019 --> 00:09:57.300 in one end zone and the Sun in the other 249 00:09:54.990 --> 00:10:00.029 end zone parka Solar Probe tucks and 250 00:09:57.300 --> 00:10:01.560 runs to the 4 yard line in the red zone 251 00:10:00.029 --> 00:10:04.370 knocking on the door for a touchdown 252 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:04.370 let's go Ravens 253 00:10:05.060 --> 00:10:13.730 [Laughter] 254 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:25.319 all right we are going to keep taking 255 00:10:22.260 --> 00:10:28.560 your questions so please send them in to 256 00:10:25.319 --> 00:10:29.579 hash tag as NASA we will take them 257 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:30.899 throughout the show and we're going to 258 00:10:29.579 --> 00:10:34.680 have everybody come back up at the end 259 00:10:30.899 --> 00:10:36.870 and answer even more of them and again 260 00:10:34.680 --> 00:10:38.790 if you're just tuning in we are talking 261 00:10:36.870 --> 00:10:39.990 about NASA's Parker Solar Probe a 262 00:10:38.790 --> 00:10:42.990 mission to touch the Sun which is 263 00:10:39.990 --> 00:10:46.470 launching just hours from now after the 264 00:10:42.990 --> 00:10:48.329 Sun sets it's in the dark at 3:33 a.m. 265 00:10:46.470 --> 00:10:52.079 you can start watching our coverage at 266 00:10:48.329 --> 00:10:55.550 3:00 a.m. at nasa.gov slash live well we 267 00:10:52.079 --> 00:11:01.470 have another star here with us Karen and 268 00:10:55.550 --> 00:11:03.089 dr. Jim Spann hello he is the chief of 269 00:11:01.470 --> 00:11:04.280 scientist for Helio physics so let me 270 00:11:03.089 --> 00:11:07.190 take a moment and tell you 271 00:11:04.280 --> 00:11:08.720 heliophysics before he gets started so 272 00:11:07.190 --> 00:11:10.280 we were talking about the solar wind 273 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:12.230 right the solar wind 274 00:11:10.280 --> 00:11:14.540 it affects these planetary atmospheres 275 00:11:12.230 --> 00:11:16.310 it affects all of space and NASA studies 276 00:11:14.540 --> 00:11:18.080 this and it's called Helio physics after 277 00:11:16.310 --> 00:11:24.500 research field called Elio physics and 278 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:26.480 that is doctor spans specialty so yep 279 00:11:24.500 --> 00:11:28.370 yeah yeah we have been here a long time 280 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:29.960 today so you know we get not only these 281 00:11:28.370 --> 00:11:31.940 these these stars but let's talk about 282 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.590 Gila physics the heliosphere which 283 00:11:31.940 --> 00:11:35.450 affects a lot there's a lot of these 284 00:11:33.590 --> 00:11:38.030 scientific terms magenta strands gonna 285 00:11:35.450 --> 00:11:40.610 break it down to you so how does all of 286 00:11:38.030 --> 00:11:42.500 this fit into this Sun earth connection 287 00:11:40.610 --> 00:11:44.660 that affects every human being we've 288 00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:46.400 been talking about earlier so we talked 289 00:11:44.660 --> 00:11:48.470 about or Nikki mentioned the fact that 290 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:51.230 Parker Solar Probe is going to go 291 00:11:48.470 --> 00:11:53.810 straight in and into the inner 292 00:11:51.230 --> 00:11:56.360 atmosphere of the Sun and that's really 293 00:11:53.810 --> 00:11:57.500 where the solar wind is accelerated even 294 00:11:56.360 --> 00:11:59.060 though we don't fully understand it 295 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:01.820 Parker's going to elucidate that fact 296 00:11:59.060 --> 00:12:04.700 but it's also going to help us 297 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:07.760 understand the solar wind as it expands 298 00:12:04.700 --> 00:12:09.350 and fills the space between the planets 299 00:12:07.760 --> 00:12:11.600 and our solar system and what we 300 00:12:09.350 --> 00:12:13.940 understand from this is that in fact the 301 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:15.380 solar system is not a vacuum there is 302 00:12:13.940 --> 00:12:17.690 stuff out there and if those are 303 00:12:15.380 --> 00:12:20.390 electrified gases those are charged 304 00:12:17.690 --> 00:12:22.910 particles it's radiation and so as we 305 00:12:20.390 --> 00:12:24.440 study that though that plasma as it and 306 00:12:22.910 --> 00:12:26.540 it interacts with the rest of the 307 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:28.820 planets in the solar system that is part 308 00:12:26.540 --> 00:12:31.010 of what solar video physics is about and 309 00:12:28.820 --> 00:12:34.450 Parker is going to plays a key integral 310 00:12:31.010 --> 00:12:34.450 to help us understand that whole system 311 00:12:39.190 --> 00:12:44.030 so the science of Helio physics really 312 00:12:41.990 --> 00:12:45.500 addresses the connection between the Sun 313 00:12:44.030 --> 00:12:48.350 the planets were in particular our own 314 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:50.630 home planet Earth and and so we have a 315 00:12:48.350 --> 00:12:52.970 flotilla of spacecraft out there over 20 316 00:12:50.630 --> 00:12:54.830 spacecraft out there studying various 317 00:12:52.970 --> 00:12:57.230 regions including near the earth with a 318 00:12:54.830 --> 00:12:59.870 recently launched gold mission on a 319 00:12:57.230 --> 00:13:01.640 commercial satellite a nikon mission 320 00:12:59.870 --> 00:13:02.810 which is getting ready to be launched 321 00:13:01.640 --> 00:13:04.610 it's going to study basically the 322 00:13:02.810 --> 00:13:07.070 boundary between the Earth's atmosphere 323 00:13:04.610 --> 00:13:08.420 and space that's really in terms of 324 00:13:07.070 --> 00:13:10.970 space weather that's really where the 325 00:13:08.420 --> 00:13:11.660 rubber hits the road and the impacts are 326 00:13:10.970 --> 00:13:13.339 right there 327 00:13:11.660 --> 00:13:15.140 we have missions that are studying the 328 00:13:13.339 --> 00:13:15.830 boundary of our solar system with 329 00:13:15.140 --> 00:13:18.320 interstellar 330 00:13:15.830 --> 00:13:20.810 space and we have ibex we just recently 331 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:22.940 selected a new mission called IMAP all 332 00:13:20.810 --> 00:13:24.950 of these things including missions 333 00:13:22.940 --> 00:13:26.360 within our magnetosphere MMS is doing a 334 00:13:24.950 --> 00:13:28.070 fabulous job of really trying to 335 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.110 understand the fundamental physics that 336 00:13:28.070 --> 00:13:33.850 sparkers going to sense as it goes in 337 00:13:30.110 --> 00:13:33.850 there so we have a myriad of spacecraft 338 00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:38.749 [Music] 339 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:45.620 well you know he of physics has a plan 340 00:13:43.790 --> 00:13:47.000 where we are going to study various 341 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:49.400 regions Parker is going to really 342 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.590 address the inner hemisphere as we study 343 00:13:49.400 --> 00:13:53.300 that we've got a mission as I just 344 00:13:51.590 --> 00:13:56.090 mentioned I'm apt to study the boundary 345 00:13:53.300 --> 00:13:58.700 of the solar system with interstellar 346 00:13:56.090 --> 00:14:02.420 space we've got another mission Global 347 00:13:58.700 --> 00:14:04.070 dynamics coupling our constellation 348 00:14:02.420 --> 00:14:05.990 which is going to be studying the 349 00:14:04.070 --> 00:14:07.370 coupling between the ionosphere which is 350 00:14:05.990 --> 00:14:08.960 right near the Earth's atmosphere and 351 00:14:07.370 --> 00:14:10.370 the Earth's magnetosphere which is the 352 00:14:08.960 --> 00:14:11.750 region that is dominated by there 353 00:14:10.370 --> 00:14:13.730 something that it filled all of those 354 00:14:11.750 --> 00:14:17.690 regions are key to truly understanding 355 00:14:13.730 --> 00:14:19.520 the physics that that really connects 356 00:14:17.690 --> 00:14:21.920 everything as well as providing an 357 00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:23.420 understanding for space weather and so 358 00:14:21.920 --> 00:14:25.130 that's kind of the applied component 359 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:26.660 behavior physics and we are super 360 00:14:25.130 --> 00:14:28.850 excited about going after that I got to 361 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:30.290 get a question in here because you know 362 00:14:28.850 --> 00:14:32.810 johnny was here we're gonna have another 363 00:14:30.290 --> 00:14:35.510 incredible scientist come up and I just 364 00:14:32.810 --> 00:14:37.340 got to go back to the Eclipse 600 365 00:14:35.510 --> 00:14:38.780 million or more I mean just and another 366 00:14:37.340 --> 00:14:40.910 thing that touched just about everyone 367 00:14:38.780 --> 00:14:44.320 particularly on the United States but 368 00:14:40.910 --> 00:14:47.300 Jim you know you guys have been pretty 369 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:49.730 good and a lot really busy had the 370 00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:51.410 Eclipse last year you got this you cause 371 00:14:49.730 --> 00:14:54.320 the solar science I mean you know 372 00:14:51.410 --> 00:14:56.540 physicists ought to be like oh man we we 373 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.740 are we are ecstatic we are so excited 374 00:14:56.540 --> 00:14:59.690 about because there are so many 375 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:01.130 different aspects of this system this 376 00:14:59.690 --> 00:15:03.380 connected system to study 377 00:15:01.130 --> 00:15:06.770 we've got missions addressing various 378 00:15:03.380 --> 00:15:08.510 aspects and and then as the scientists a 379 00:15:06.770 --> 00:15:09.650 lot of the scientists work on the 380 00:15:08.510 --> 00:15:11.300 missions themselves and build the 381 00:15:09.650 --> 00:15:14.150 instruments and there's an entire 382 00:15:11.300 --> 00:15:15.440 community out there with young early 383 00:15:14.150 --> 00:15:17.350 career folks who are studying the 384 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:19.970 modeling the connection between the two 385 00:15:17.350 --> 00:15:21.680 it's it's just a very exciting time for 386 00:15:19.970 --> 00:15:23.830 heliophysics I can't say enough about 387 00:15:21.680 --> 00:15:23.830 that 388 00:15:25.030 --> 00:15:29.500 the field I focus on for NASA and I'm 389 00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:30.940 having a great time with it we do have a 390 00:15:29.500 --> 00:15:34.780 question for you too before we let you 391 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:36.610 go this is from Eric on Twitter he says 392 00:15:34.780 --> 00:15:39.370 I recently read about the Carrington 393 00:15:36.610 --> 00:15:41.560 event in 1865 where telegraph lines 394 00:15:39.370 --> 00:15:43.420 caught fire from a solar flare well 395 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:46.180 Parker Solar Probe helped us to know if 396 00:15:43.420 --> 00:15:47.950 a similar event is brewing oh absolutely 397 00:15:46.180 --> 00:15:48.940 as Mickey mentioned Parker is really 398 00:15:47.950 --> 00:15:51.820 going to help us understand the 399 00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:54.430 fundamental physics that provides this 400 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:57.190 source of the solar wind and the 401 00:15:54.430 --> 00:15:58.720 explosions that are on the coming from 402 00:15:57.190 --> 00:16:00.760 the Sun really understanding that 403 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:03.730 acceleration process the energy zation 404 00:16:00.760 --> 00:16:07.300 process when those those events occur 405 00:16:03.730 --> 00:16:09.790 and that the energy is incident on the 406 00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:11.350 earth then events like Carrington I 407 00:16:09.790 --> 00:16:13.630 can't occur now we've not had anything 408 00:16:11.350 --> 00:16:16.330 quite as significant since then but 409 00:16:13.630 --> 00:16:19.240 we've seen indications that there that 410 00:16:16.330 --> 00:16:22.480 there are very large magnetic storms 411 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:25.120 have had power outages in Quebec in 1989 412 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:28.630 and so we do understand that our 413 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:30.370 technology as we as we get the as we use 414 00:16:28.630 --> 00:16:32.290 our technology and space communications 415 00:16:30.370 --> 00:16:34.870 we are susceptible to these sorts of 416 00:16:32.290 --> 00:16:36.280 things as well as our power grid where 417 00:16:34.870 --> 00:16:38.860 currents are induced in those power 418 00:16:36.280 --> 00:16:41.530 lines and that's in essence what caused 419 00:16:38.860 --> 00:16:44.140 those telegraph lines to catch fire and 420 00:16:41.530 --> 00:16:45.730 we are trying to understand that so we 421 00:16:44.140 --> 00:16:47.890 can better predict it and Solar Probe 422 00:16:45.730 --> 00:16:49.900 plays a key role in that and I just want 423 00:16:47.890 --> 00:16:52.000 to check on one thing but Parker Solar 424 00:16:49.900 --> 00:16:54.070 Probe won't be in real time telling us 425 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.480 well right it's it's going to really 426 00:16:54.070 --> 00:16:58.060 help us understand the fundamental 427 00:16:55.480 --> 00:17:00.310 physics and in that physics as we can 428 00:16:58.060 --> 00:17:01.960 put that physics into our models our 429 00:17:00.310 --> 00:17:04.780 models will we become better predictors 430 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:07.500 and as we ever study all parts of this 431 00:17:04.780 --> 00:17:10.690 system the data that we get from these 432 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:12.220 missions fold into the models they help 433 00:17:10.690 --> 00:17:14.560 us better understand the models that 434 00:17:12.220 --> 00:17:16.860 provide information which then again 435 00:17:14.560 --> 00:17:19.199 drives the next mission that we need to 436 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:21.390 that we need to fly so that we can again 437 00:17:19.199 --> 00:17:24.000 improve our models continue improve our 438 00:17:21.390 --> 00:17:26.250 understanding as a result we will have a 439 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.559 better prediction for space weather well 440 00:17:26.250 --> 00:17:29.940 you know Parker may not tell us in real 441 00:17:28.559 --> 00:17:32.549 time but let's say we can do a real-time 442 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:35.010 picture of the launch vehicle again I 443 00:17:32.549 --> 00:17:37.710 think we let's go back to their United 444 00:17:35.010 --> 00:17:41.600 Launch Alliance you guys are awesome a 445 00:17:37.710 --> 00:17:44.280 big rocket for a big mission with big 446 00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:47.250 science we here at the sunset show 447 00:17:44.280 --> 00:17:49.350 hashtag ask NASA please send your 448 00:17:47.250 --> 00:17:53.669 questions in again hashtag ask NASA 449 00:17:49.350 --> 00:17:55.020 social media they are exploding bring 450 00:17:53.669 --> 00:17:57.240 your questions in if we can't get to 451 00:17:55.020 --> 00:18:01.410 them right now and of course look at 452 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:03.900 nasa.gov slash live check that website 453 00:18:01.410 --> 00:18:05.970 out the launch will be there you're 454 00:18:03.900 --> 00:18:07.040 watching us here on that and much much 455 00:18:05.970 --> 00:18:10.230 more 456 00:18:07.040 --> 00:18:14.309 we are here at the sunset show and oh my 457 00:18:10.230 --> 00:18:18.059 goodness who's here Alex yeah dr. Alex 458 00:18:14.309 --> 00:18:21.470 Young another Eclipse friends I see you 459 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:21.470 went to the barber like me that's right 460 00:18:23.179 --> 00:18:27.600 Alex Young is a soil scientist right 461 00:18:26.669 --> 00:18:29.490 correct 462 00:18:27.600 --> 00:18:33.240 nasa's goddard space flight center in 463 00:18:29.490 --> 00:18:37.700 greenbelt mellon he is you got the shoes 464 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:40.140 on I do the man with the shoes you know 465 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:42.360 you have been all over the place 466 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:45.360 I mean you know you're just telling 467 00:18:42.360 --> 00:18:48.419 about this star why is the star so 468 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:50.820 important well so you know Nikki and 469 00:18:48.419 --> 00:18:53.220 jari and Jenna thon an amazing job 470 00:18:50.820 --> 00:18:56.490 talking about the fundamental physics 471 00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:58.620 that the Sun drives and creating this 472 00:18:56.490 --> 00:19:00.870 heliosphere and the connectivity of all 473 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:02.610 the planets but one of the things it's 474 00:19:00.870 --> 00:19:06.900 also amazing is that the Sun is a star 475 00:19:02.610 --> 00:19:09.240 and so if we understand our star which 476 00:19:06.900 --> 00:19:13.350 is the only star we can really look at 477 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:15.059 up close then we can understand other 478 00:19:13.350 --> 00:19:17.460 stars in the universe I mean I actually 479 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:19.080 like to think of Parker Solar Probe is 480 00:19:17.460 --> 00:19:21.660 not only a Helio physics mission but a 481 00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:24.720 universe mission it tells us about the 482 00:19:21.660 --> 00:19:28.679 universe the fundamental objects in the 483 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:30.450 universe that stars and so Niki talked a 484 00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:32.370 lot about the solar wind 485 00:19:30.450 --> 00:19:35.250 and the environment that it creates and 486 00:19:32.370 --> 00:19:38.250 other stars have winds too we call them 487 00:19:35.250 --> 00:19:40.220 stellar winds and they also create an 488 00:19:38.250 --> 00:19:44.370 environment around their particular 489 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:47.850 solar systems and so understanding this 490 00:19:44.370 --> 00:19:49.800 tells us about other solar systems so 491 00:19:47.850 --> 00:19:53.400 this is where we know there are other 492 00:19:49.800 --> 00:19:55.290 planets it tells us about the universe 493 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:57.870 in a way that we would never be able to 494 00:19:55.290 --> 00:19:59.850 do so getting up close and personal 495 00:19:57.870 --> 00:20:02.250 understanding this fundamental physics 496 00:19:59.850 --> 00:20:03.330 is fundamental to our understanding of 497 00:20:02.250 --> 00:20:05.280 the universe we live in 498 00:20:03.330 --> 00:20:06.450 so I want to follow up on that let's 499 00:20:05.280 --> 00:20:07.680 talk a little bit more about this 500 00:20:06.450 --> 00:20:08.790 universe and what we're studying in the 501 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.040 universe because one of the things NASA 502 00:20:08.790 --> 00:20:12.660 is really trying to do right is see if 503 00:20:11.040 --> 00:20:15.480 there are other habitable planets out 504 00:20:12.660 --> 00:20:16.770 there so are we saying that that Parker 505 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:17.100 Solar Probe is a connection to things 506 00:20:16.770 --> 00:20:19.200 like that 507 00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:22.320 absolutely absolutely heliophysics is 508 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:25.070 the fundamental science of a solar 509 00:20:22.320 --> 00:20:28.260 system of a stellar system and so 510 00:20:25.070 --> 00:20:31.620 understanding the interaction between a 511 00:20:28.260 --> 00:20:35.070 star and all the planets is something 512 00:20:31.620 --> 00:20:38.040 that only Parker and what we do in our 513 00:20:35.070 --> 00:20:41.100 solar system can do for us we know that 514 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:43.260 other stars can be extremely active to 515 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:47.280 active because they blast planets with 516 00:20:43.260 --> 00:20:49.410 radiation and energy or some stars can 517 00:20:47.280 --> 00:20:52.110 be too cool and don't have enough energy 518 00:20:49.410 --> 00:20:54.510 we live in just the right solar system 519 00:20:52.110 --> 00:20:57.720 it has just the right conditions that 520 00:20:54.510 --> 00:20:59.100 allow for habitability and really to 521 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:01.710 understand how that applies to 522 00:20:59.100 --> 00:21:04.530 everywhere else we again have to go 523 00:21:01.710 --> 00:21:06.780 there up close and personal to really 524 00:21:04.530 --> 00:21:10.590 get a handle on that fundamental physics 525 00:21:06.780 --> 00:21:12.600 to understand our place in this bigger 526 00:21:10.590 --> 00:21:14.250 universe one other question Alex you 527 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:18.750 know NASA you know we're going back to 528 00:21:14.250 --> 00:21:20.850 the moon and on to Mars moon to Mars how 529 00:21:18.750 --> 00:21:23.100 is this mission and we talked earlier in 530 00:21:20.850 --> 00:21:25.500 the show you know the astronauts and and 531 00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:27.090 sending humans and all of the stuff that 532 00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:29.520 this mission will bring all the great 533 00:21:27.090 --> 00:21:32.490 sciences pretty much covers a wide field 534 00:21:29.520 --> 00:21:34.890 how will Parker help those initiatives 535 00:21:32.490 --> 00:21:38.040 to get us back on the moon and eventual 536 00:21:34.890 --> 00:21:40.800 footprints on well you know as as my 537 00:21:38.040 --> 00:21:43.570 fellow guests have talked about the the 538 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:47.740 energy that that this the corona 539 00:21:43.570 --> 00:21:50.230 is driving particles to extreme energies 540 00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:52.390 these particles create radiation storms 541 00:21:50.230 --> 00:21:54.400 and that radiation is hazardous to 542 00:21:52.390 --> 00:21:57.760 astronauts it creates a hazardous 543 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:59.770 environment so understanding how these 544 00:21:57.760 --> 00:22:02.410 magnetic fields in the corona how the 545 00:21:59.770 --> 00:22:04.560 solar wind is accelerated how shockwaves 546 00:22:02.410 --> 00:22:07.600 are created and accelerate particles 547 00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:09.790 tells us about these parking storms that 548 00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:12.790 make it to earth or that make it to Mars 549 00:22:09.790 --> 00:22:15.190 and create this hostile hazardous 550 00:22:12.790 --> 00:22:18.250 environment for human beings traveling 551 00:22:15.190 --> 00:22:20.410 in space so this is another example of 552 00:22:18.250 --> 00:22:22.210 how we need to understand the 553 00:22:20.410 --> 00:22:24.490 fundamental physics and this is the 554 00:22:22.210 --> 00:22:25.840 spacecraft this is the mission that is 555 00:22:24.490 --> 00:22:27.850 going to do that for us you know this is 556 00:22:25.840 --> 00:22:30.520 a mission when people ask why should we 557 00:22:27.850 --> 00:22:33.340 care we got a whole bunch of answers we 558 00:22:30.520 --> 00:22:35.650 really we really do and you know this is 559 00:22:33.340 --> 00:22:39.240 this is for me and I know for many of my 560 00:22:35.650 --> 00:22:41.740 fellow Helio physicists an amazing 561 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:44.920 spacecraft that is you know both 562 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:47.020 honoring an amazing physicist who has 563 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:48.790 done seminal work for his entire career 564 00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:51.250 which has laid the foundation for all 565 00:22:48.790 --> 00:22:53.610 the science we do on top of the fact 566 00:22:51.250 --> 00:22:55.690 that this project is driven by 567 00:22:53.610 --> 00:22:58.390 unbelievably talented and amazing 568 00:22:55.690 --> 00:23:00.460 engineers who've created this something 569 00:22:58.390 --> 00:23:00.880 that people have wanted to do for 60 570 00:23:00.460 --> 00:23:03.070 years 571 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:06.010 and it's going to happen tomorrow 572 00:23:03.070 --> 00:23:09.070 morning in 60 years and you know the 573 00:23:06.010 --> 00:23:11.620 agency's celebrating 60 years well it's 574 00:23:09.070 --> 00:23:15.040 it's it's a it's a it's it's such a 575 00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:17.680 great confluence of event so in 1958 576 00:23:15.040 --> 00:23:20.290 Parker predicted the solar wind we had 577 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:23.530 Explorer one seeing the radiation belt 578 00:23:20.290 --> 00:23:26.080 we have the beginnings of NASA we have 579 00:23:23.530 --> 00:23:28.420 the committee that decided on what are 580 00:23:26.080 --> 00:23:30.700 the the bucket what's the bucket list of 581 00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:33.130 what NASA's gonna do and this is it 582 00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:35.320 we're if we are filling the bucket you 583 00:23:33.130 --> 00:23:39.700 know and so all of it is coming together 584 00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:42.190 in 60 years so it is a unbelievable year 585 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:44.350 if you're just joining us we are coming 586 00:23:42.190 --> 00:23:48.220 to you live from the NASA Kennedy Space 587 00:23:44.350 --> 00:23:51.310 Center the sunset show and I tell you 588 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:53.730 the excitement is abuzz and send your 589 00:23:51.310 --> 00:23:56.590 questions in social media you guys 590 00:23:53.730 --> 00:23:59.080 hashtag ask NASA 591 00:23:56.590 --> 00:24:00.700 again hashtag ask NASA and we're going 592 00:23:59.080 --> 00:24:05.830 to try to answer those questions launch 593 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:08.080 is still scheduled for 333 a.m. all 594 00:24:05.830 --> 00:24:09.820 right should we bring everybody else I 595 00:24:08.080 --> 00:24:11.980 think we should bring everyone up right 596 00:24:09.820 --> 00:24:14.710 again bring those questions in to 597 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:18.399 hashtag ask NASA and again go to the 598 00:24:14.710 --> 00:24:23.889 website at nasa.gov slash live and 599 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:27.460 nasa.gov slash Parker and the spacecraft 600 00:24:23.889 --> 00:24:29.559 itself it is a big spacecraft again 601 00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:32.679 check everything out launch still 602 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:36.399 scheduled for Saturday morning 333 am 603 00:24:32.679 --> 00:24:39.820 nasa.gov slash live and sending those 604 00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:45.159 questions to hashtag ask NASA and then 605 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:48.490 we got the band back together you guys 606 00:24:45.159 --> 00:24:51.789 ready I have a wonderful one from Manish 607 00:24:48.490 --> 00:24:56.230 from Twitter why is NASA launching 608 00:24:51.789 --> 00:24:59.070 Parker Solar Probe at night there's this 609 00:24:56.230 --> 00:25:01.779 an answer I'm dying to give to them 610 00:24:59.070 --> 00:25:05.769 resist the urge to say that it's less 611 00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:07.659 hot so we have to launch the first thing 612 00:25:05.769 --> 00:25:10.090 that we need to do is fly past the 613 00:25:07.659 --> 00:25:11.889 planet Venus and so Venus has to be in 614 00:25:10.090 --> 00:25:14.409 exactly the right location in the sky 615 00:25:11.889 --> 00:25:16.690 for us and so for our trajectory to go 616 00:25:14.409 --> 00:25:20.110 straight to Venus it's a 3:33 a.m. 617 00:25:16.690 --> 00:25:21.369 launch because we actually don't have a 618 00:25:20.110 --> 00:25:23.320 chance to talk about this why does it 619 00:25:21.369 --> 00:25:25.990 have to go by Venus it goes bye-bye 620 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:27.940 Venus to do a gravity assist and so we 621 00:25:25.990 --> 00:25:29.679 are launching with a huge launch energy 622 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:31.779 with delta 4 heavy and then we have the 623 00:25:29.679 --> 00:25:33.279 upper stage that gives us 55% of our 624 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:36.340 launch energy when we're outside the 625 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:38.259 atmosphere but we're going very fast we 626 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:41.080 want to be able to turn and make sure 627 00:25:38.259 --> 00:25:42.999 that we are going in towards Venus sorry 628 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:44.710 in towards the Sun we don't want to be 629 00:25:42.999 --> 00:25:46.539 dragged around at all by the influence 630 00:25:44.710 --> 00:25:47.919 of the earth and so we use Venus to kind 631 00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:49.990 of give us a little handbrake turn it 632 00:25:47.919 --> 00:25:52.330 slows us down just a little bit and 633 00:25:49.990 --> 00:25:55.110 really turns that orbit in towards the 634 00:25:52.330 --> 00:25:55.110 focus is it 635 00:25:55.160 --> 00:25:59.760 take the microphone this time all right 636 00:25:57.720 --> 00:26:01.470 this is a question for Alex standing 637 00:25:59.760 --> 00:26:03.960 behind me this is about the coronal 638 00:26:01.470 --> 00:26:06.420 heating problem the question is are our 639 00:26:03.960 --> 00:26:08.850 most accurate models of the Sun too 640 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:10.740 complex to run on computers or is it 641 00:26:08.850 --> 00:26:13.110 really that scientistic scientists 642 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:17.010 expect that our models are missing of 643 00:26:13.110 --> 00:26:20.430 fundamental pieces well so you know we 644 00:26:17.010 --> 00:26:22.920 have a couple of we have a couple of 645 00:26:20.430 --> 00:26:25.230 theories that do a very good job of 646 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:27.900 explaining some of the aspects of 647 00:26:25.230 --> 00:26:30.060 coronal heating so one of the aspects 648 00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:32.880 that we're looking forward to is really 649 00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:35.940 to gather the data we need to really pin 650 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:38.160 it down we know that there's magnetic 651 00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:41.100 energy released in the corona there's 652 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:44.550 waves there's little tiny explosions 653 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:47.550 that actually Eugene Parker coined 654 00:26:44.550 --> 00:26:49.470 nanoflares so is it a combination of 655 00:26:47.550 --> 00:26:51.420 those is it one or the other what are 656 00:26:49.470 --> 00:26:53.910 the details of this theory so it's it's 657 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:56.220 really a matter of fine-tuning the knobs 658 00:26:53.910 --> 00:26:57.420 of the physics to understand what's 659 00:26:56.220 --> 00:27:01.620 going on I don't know if you want to 660 00:26:57.420 --> 00:27:03.570 elaborate on that at all or okay can I 661 00:27:01.620 --> 00:27:05.490 actually ask a question somebody tweeted 662 00:27:03.570 --> 00:27:07.890 me and I want to ask you the question 663 00:27:05.490 --> 00:27:10.580 it's not a hard question but it's a cool 664 00:27:07.890 --> 00:27:15.780 it's a cool question no pun intended 665 00:27:10.580 --> 00:27:17.900 why is the corona millions of degrees 666 00:27:15.780 --> 00:27:21.870 with the front of the spacecraft's only 667 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:24.510 2500 degrees so that's a great question 668 00:27:21.870 --> 00:27:26.400 so three billion degree plasma but it's 669 00:27:24.510 --> 00:27:29.550 not very dense it's a very very tenuous 670 00:27:26.400 --> 00:27:31.020 atmosphere and so there just aren't a 671 00:27:29.550 --> 00:27:33.380 lot of particles there to be able to 672 00:27:31.020 --> 00:27:36.030 transfer the heat into the spacecraft 673 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:38.310 most of our heating comes from the 674 00:27:36.030 --> 00:27:40.170 photons from the Sun which is why we 675 00:27:38.310 --> 00:27:42.060 have a whiter than white coating on the 676 00:27:40.170 --> 00:27:44.400 front of the heat shield on a Florida 677 00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:45.930 day like we've had today I'm really glad 678 00:27:44.400 --> 00:27:49.170 I have a white rental car and not a 679 00:27:45.930 --> 00:27:51.750 black one and so the white actually 680 00:27:49.170 --> 00:27:55.080 helps to reflect off a lot of the energy 681 00:27:51.750 --> 00:27:58.290 and so what actually couples in comes up 682 00:27:55.080 --> 00:28:00.450 to about 2500 degrees Fahrenheit but the 683 00:27:58.290 --> 00:28:04.200 rest of the spacecraft as Yuri noted is 684 00:28:00.450 --> 00:28:08.820 at a very balmy 85 degrees Fahrenheit 685 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:11.340 like right now I'm gonna follow up on 686 00:28:08.820 --> 00:28:13.740 that question with another one from 687 00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:15.570 Bhargava of Twitter how does the 688 00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:18.690 spacecraft make sure the shield stays 689 00:28:15.570 --> 00:28:23.130 facing the Sun she is the smartest 690 00:28:18.690 --> 00:28:26.519 spacecraft ever no she we put a ton of 691 00:28:23.130 --> 00:28:28.289 we like fault management or autonomy it 692 00:28:26.519 --> 00:28:29.970 takes light eight minutes to get from 693 00:28:28.289 --> 00:28:32.039 the Sun to the earth so there's no way 694 00:28:29.970 --> 00:28:33.750 that we could joystick this spacecraft 695 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:36.539 if something bad happens 696 00:28:33.750 --> 00:28:38.340 she has minutes to respond so everything 697 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:39.779 is programmed into that spacecraft and 698 00:28:38.340 --> 00:28:41.610 that's one of the reasons we've had to 699 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:43.950 wait so long to do this this type of 700 00:28:41.610 --> 00:28:46.350 mission in order to have miniaturization 701 00:28:43.950 --> 00:28:47.789 and the technology to enable us to do it 702 00:28:46.350 --> 00:28:49.200 think of what you hold in your hand with 703 00:28:47.789 --> 00:28:53.130 an iPhone compared to what was available 704 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:55.080 in 1958 there are little Sun sensors all 705 00:28:53.130 --> 00:28:57.240 around the body they're not supposed to 706 00:28:55.080 --> 00:28:59.220 see the Sun when one of them does she 707 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:01.309 goes oh I'm not supposed to see that and 708 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:04.559 starts firing thrusters to kind of write 709 00:29:01.309 --> 00:29:08.120 that anomaly so she's very fiercely 710 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:18.480 independent of course I mean it's very 711 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:23.159 it's it's it's it's okay dr. Eugene 712 00:29:18.480 --> 00:29:26.039 pocket I mean just amazing right I mean 713 00:29:23.159 --> 00:29:28.350 yes amazing and I actually got to take 714 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:30.470 him up on the pad today and he stood in 715 00:29:28.350 --> 00:29:34.529 front of that enormous delta 4 heavy 716 00:29:30.470 --> 00:29:36.269 that is carrying his legacy up to the 717 00:29:34.529 --> 00:29:37.620 Sun and so it's very it was very 718 00:29:36.269 --> 00:29:40.260 emotional 719 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:42.389 he is just the loveliest man I said in 720 00:29:40.260 --> 00:29:44.010 every interview I've done humble 721 00:29:42.389 --> 00:29:46.559 gracious and forever 722 00:29:44.010 --> 00:29:48.210 telling telling people that it's it's 723 00:29:46.559 --> 00:29:48.929 other people who deserve the praise not 724 00:29:48.210 --> 00:29:51.029 him 725 00:29:48.929 --> 00:29:54.000 and yet as Thomas sebou Cohen pointed 726 00:29:51.029 --> 00:29:55.950 out 35 NASA missions have flown that a 727 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:58.289 you know really have gone after his 728 00:29:55.950 --> 00:29:59.730 science and that's a huge thing so 729 00:29:58.289 --> 00:30:02.669 having one that bears his name is 730 00:29:59.730 --> 00:30:04.679 awesome and this is the first time yes a 731 00:30:02.669 --> 00:30:06.480 historic thing first time NASA's ever 732 00:30:04.679 --> 00:30:07.500 named a mission after somebody during 733 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:09.269 their lifetime and it was a lovely 734 00:30:07.500 --> 00:30:11.490 moment yesterday when when Thomas said 735 00:30:09.269 --> 00:30:13.049 you know and the person that it's named 736 00:30:11.490 --> 00:30:14.909 after is sitting in the room right over 737 00:30:13.049 --> 00:30:22.229 there there was a very cool moment 738 00:30:14.909 --> 00:30:25.049 Nikki foxpro I don't think as Jean 739 00:30:22.229 --> 00:30:27.210 Parker and so I'd love it but I don't 740 00:30:25.049 --> 00:30:29.909 think it's gonna happen well your 741 00:30:27.210 --> 00:30:31.619 superstar y'all a superstar and I think 742 00:30:29.909 --> 00:30:33.149 they're so I've been fiddling with my 743 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:35.820 finger I keep saying the Eclipse guys 744 00:30:33.149 --> 00:30:38.460 you know and I got I got 3d so you know 745 00:30:35.820 --> 00:30:40.979 let's let's pass these out and we got we 746 00:30:38.460 --> 00:30:46.169 got a couple more here you know it's 747 00:30:40.979 --> 00:30:52.409 it's the Sun is setting and quite 748 00:30:46.169 --> 00:30:56.279 frankly that we have everyone so so 749 00:30:52.409 --> 00:30:58.590 here's one for it the Sun is setting for 750 00:30:56.279 --> 00:31:00.779 those if you're just joining us you 751 00:30:58.590 --> 00:31:03.210 missed a treat but you'll be able to see 752 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:05.519 replace this is our sunset show and 753 00:31:03.210 --> 00:31:08.399 historic mission is going to take place 754 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:11.359 this morning in the wee hours launch 755 00:31:08.399 --> 00:31:14.970 time is scheduled to start at 3:33 a.m. 756 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:17.429 the Sun is setting on a spacecraft and 757 00:31:14.970 --> 00:31:20.789 in fact this will be the last sunset the 758 00:31:17.429 --> 00:31:24.409 Parker Solar Probe will oversee and in 759 00:31:20.789 --> 00:31:27.149 honor of XI 760 00:31:24.409 --> 00:31:29.429 we're gonna we're gonna put on our Clips 761 00:31:27.149 --> 00:31:32.369 glasses and we're going to do one thing 762 00:31:29.429 --> 00:31:36.650 and give a shout out on three two one 763 00:31:32.369 --> 00:31:39.829 with three two one go 764 00:31:36.650 --> 00:31:39.829 [Applause]