Nasa solar probe crucial in UAE's space missions

Dubai - The UAE has several satellites currently in space and is sending the first fully UAE-built one in December.

The data that will be retrieved from Nasa's latest solar probe can help UAE achieve its future missions involving space travel, a top UAE astronomer has said.
The US space agency Nasa, over the weekend, launched the $1.5b Parker Solar Probe with an aim to study the sun's behaviour, especially what accelerates its solar winds and energetic particles.
Hasan Al Hariri, CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group, said: "This mission is critical for every country in the world, which has satellite programmes, or even uses telecom technology. In other words, it's essential for all countries. Why? Because sun activity, and especially solar wind, can disturb communication and sometimes put satellites in danger."
The UAE has several satellites currently in space and is sending the first fully UAE-built one in December. The first Emirati astronaut is also heading to the International Space Station (ISS) in April.
"This mission will be our front-line warning system to save our satellites from solar winds and its effect. Besides that, we have to understand the total solar effect on our biosystem as well as global weather system which directly affect our life on earth. All of our space programmes have to take into consideration, the sun activity and its short and long term effects on humans."
Hariri warned that it is essential for the UAE to factor in the sun when planning any kind of space travel. He said the data from the Nasa solar probe can potentially help protect astronauts and satellites.
"If we want to develop space exploration programmes, we have to take sun into account as a major element for every mission and activity," he said.
"We need sunlight to run our solar panels and we need to protect our electronic from lethal solar winds and its ions. We have to protect our astronauts the same way. If we want to build a Mars city then we have to learn how to protect our buildings, farms and personal from sun radiation, specially from solar wind and ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) rays."
"Sun is the most influential object on Earth and, specifically, life on earth. Without sun, no life can exist on earth. On the other hand, more sun energy and heat is also very lethal for life. We as humans depend on sun in a variety of ways - energy heat and light, health, food, technology, communication and space exploration. We need sun in every way you may think. Studying sun is as important as protecting our life and securing our future."
What is Parker Solar Probe?
The Parker Solar Probe, the fastest man-made object aimed to get closer to the sun, is named after Eugene Parker, an astronomy professor at the University of Chicago, who introduced the concept of solar winds in 1950s.
The probe will study the sun's corona and will face extreme heat and radiation. It will fly close enough to watch the solar winds speed up from subsonic to supersonic, according to Nasa.
The spacecraft has a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-carbon composite heat shield, which will protect the probe's instruments. The shield's front surface will be able to withstand temperatures outside of the spacecraft of up to 2,500 degree Farenheit.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com  

• Dubai