solar-probe-plus

Nasa has approved Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) to proceed with construction of the Solar Probe Plus spacecraft.

The decision by Nasa comes after the Solar Probe Plus mission completed its critical design review (CDR) last month.

Nasa and APL have discussed all aspects of the mission plan after the CDR demonstrating that mission design is in advanced stages.

APL will now work on fabrication, assembly, integration and testing of mission elements.

The Solar Probe Plus is designed to evaluate the heating of the solar corona, and explore the physical mechanisms that accelerate solar wind and energetic particles.

"The spacecraft will carry four instrument suites into the corona to study magnetic fields, plasma, and energetic particles off the sun’s surface and image the solar wind."

APL Solar Probe Plus project manager Andy Driesman said: "We’re excited to continue working on a difficult mission that’s been more than 50 years in the making, one that is now achievable thanks to advances in technology, materials and design."

Solar Probe Plus is planned for launch on-board a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Starting 31 July 2018, the launch window will remain open for 20 days.

The mission will use seven flybys of Venus over 24 orbits, to reduce its distance from the Sun, while the closest three will be 3.8 million miles from the star.

The spacecraft will carry four instrument suites into the corona to study magnetic fields, plasma, and energetic particles off the sun’s surface and image the solar wind.

At the closest distance from the sun, the spacecraft’s temperatures will reach around 2,500°F.

Image: Artist rendering of Solar Probe Plus. Photo: courtesy of Nasa / JHUAPL.