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What will happen to Parker Solar Probe in the long term?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
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Will the probe be intentionally crashed anywhere? Or is keeping space decontaminated not an issue here since temperature and radiation will sterilize anything in that kind of orbit?
orbital-mechanics trajectory parker-solar-probe planetary-protection
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
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asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
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up vote
7
down vote
favorite
Will the probe be intentionally crashed anywhere? Or is keeping space decontaminated not an issue here since temperature and radiation will sterilize anything in that kind of orbit?
orbital-mechanics trajectory parker-solar-probe planetary-protection
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
add a comment |Â
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
up vote
7
down vote
favorite
Will the probe be intentionally crashed anywhere? Or is keeping space decontaminated not an issue here since temperature and radiation will sterilize anything in that kind of orbit?
orbital-mechanics trajectory parker-solar-probe planetary-protection
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
Will the probe be intentionally crashed anywhere? Or is keeping space decontaminated not an issue here since temperature and radiation will sterilize anything in that kind of orbit?
orbital-mechanics trajectory parker-solar-probe planetary-protection
orbital-mechanics trajectory parker-solar-probe planetary-protection
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
edited 53 mins ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
77.5k16217423
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
asked 6 hours ago
derwodamaso
1,104420
1,104420
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
Surface contamination is not an issue for Mercury or Venus. It is only considered a Category I (Mercury) or II (Venus) risk, which essentially means don't worry about it too much. Also, its orbit will take it very close to the Sun repeatedly. Eventually it will lose control due to lower fuel and the entire spacecraft will be heated to a more then high enough value to sterilize anything.
Most likely they will simply continue to do as many close passes as it can. If they can get a closer approach then they will try it. If they can't, it will basically melt except for the heat shield and a few other components, and might end up in Venus or the Sun.
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
Surface contamination is not an issue for Mercury or Venus. It is only considered a Category I (Mercury) or II (Venus) risk, which essentially means don't worry about it too much. Also, its orbit will take it very close to the Sun repeatedly. Eventually it will lose control due to lower fuel and the entire spacecraft will be heated to a more then high enough value to sterilize anything.
Most likely they will simply continue to do as many close passes as it can. If they can get a closer approach then they will try it. If they can't, it will basically melt except for the heat shield and a few other components, and might end up in Venus or the Sun.
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
Surface contamination is not an issue for Mercury or Venus. It is only considered a Category I (Mercury) or II (Venus) risk, which essentially means don't worry about it too much. Also, its orbit will take it very close to the Sun repeatedly. Eventually it will lose control due to lower fuel and the entire spacecraft will be heated to a more then high enough value to sterilize anything.
Most likely they will simply continue to do as many close passes as it can. If they can get a closer approach then they will try it. If they can't, it will basically melt except for the heat shield and a few other components, and might end up in Venus or the Sun.
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
5
down vote
up vote
5
down vote
Surface contamination is not an issue for Mercury or Venus. It is only considered a Category I (Mercury) or II (Venus) risk, which essentially means don't worry about it too much. Also, its orbit will take it very close to the Sun repeatedly. Eventually it will lose control due to lower fuel and the entire spacecraft will be heated to a more then high enough value to sterilize anything.
Most likely they will simply continue to do as many close passes as it can. If they can get a closer approach then they will try it. If they can't, it will basically melt except for the heat shield and a few other components, and might end up in Venus or the Sun.
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
Surface contamination is not an issue for Mercury or Venus. It is only considered a Category I (Mercury) or II (Venus) risk, which essentially means don't worry about it too much. Also, its orbit will take it very close to the Sun repeatedly. Eventually it will lose control due to lower fuel and the entire spacecraft will be heated to a more then high enough value to sterilize anything.
Most likely they will simply continue to do as many close passes as it can. If they can get a closer approach then they will try it. If they can't, it will basically melt except for the heat shield and a few other components, and might end up in Venus or the Sun.
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
answered 3 hours ago
PearsonArtPhoto♦
77.5k16217423
77.5k16217423
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
2
2
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
Hopefully it'll hit the sun, it would be our first addition to the suns mass in human history :). Negligible, but still cool.
– Magic Octopus Urn
3 hours ago
1
1
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
That isn't really that likely. I suppose it could happen eventually, but... A very close approach would be required.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
3 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
"If they can get a closer approach then they will try it." This is purely speculation, right? I mean I can write "Even if they can get a closer approach they wouldn't risk it, but instead keep it alive as long as possible to continue to collect data" and it would be equally valid, wouldn't it? Is there a source somewhere?
– uhoh
2 hours ago
2
2
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
Source: Almost every single NASA mission always takes a conservative approach first, with a plan to do a more risky high science value after the primary mission is done. I could list a dozen or more missions that this has been done. The logical step for PSP is to try and do a closer approach, if they can figure out how to make it happen. I know that they wanted to get PSP closer, but something was holding it back.
– PearsonArtPhoto♦
2 hours ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
@PearsonArtPhoto "Deorbiting" is roughly as hard as escaping the sun's gravitational pull; orbits (like Earth's) are roughly in the midpoint between "fall into sun" and "escape sun's gravity pull". So it could be as simple as lacking fuel to get closer to the sun...
– Yakk
24 mins ago
 |Â
show 1 more comment
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