NASA is gearing up to send a robot to the Sun to help prepare for a “huge solar event” that could wreak havoc on Earth. The Solar Plus Probe will come within four million miles of the sun’s surface, facing heat and radiation like no spacecraft has endured before. Scientists hope it will unlock the mysteries of the Sun’s corona, the massive hole in the heart of the star. Experts know that the unstable corona is believed to be cooler than the Sun’s atmosphere, but have no idea why. And
it is a prime spot for producing potentially devastating solar wind, flares and mass “ejections” that can reach Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists have spent 50 years trying to understand the impact freak space-weather events could have on our planet, but believe this mission could help us understand why they happen and help prepare for possible threats. READ MORE
