CHAPTER 9: Science: Space probe freezing to death



Nasa and the European Space shows the spacecraft Ulysses near the sun. After 17 years of studying the sun and solar system is about to die by freezing to death. The satellite had long outlasted the five-year mission it began in 1990. Its plutonium power source had weakened and its fuel was freezing as the probe made a wide circle the sun, travelling as far as Jupiter.
In January, engineer tried a manicure to heat up the fuel. Their effort backfired and hastened Ulysses’ death by several months. That three-dimensional data from Ulysses was important for scientist trying to figure out the solar wind. A Ulysses scientist with the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. The solar wind is crucial because it protects Earth from deadly cosmic radiation, causes geomagnetic storms on Earth, and is responsible for the Aurora Borealis.
As the fuel began to the freeze in recent months, engineers shut off its radio transmitter to divert what little power was left to its heaters. Engineers figured they would have had an extra two years of life from Ulysses. The final transmitter will probably quit in the next few weeks.
CHAPTER 10: Chinese scientist researching probes for Mars exploration
A senior Chinese scientist told an international meeting of space scientist in Beijing on Friday that China was currently conducting engineering feasibility studies for lunar and Mars probes, Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese scientist expands in depth research concerning various scientific objectives and the engineering feasibility of DSE. China will actively participate in deep space exploration during the 21st century.
The successful efforts have established a solid base for China to join in deep space exploration. The primary goal of international scientist is to enable mankind to land on the Moon again and establish a permanent base there. In addition, China would launch small lunar explorers when possible and develop other space vehicle on the basis of retrievable satellite technology.
Siti Amirah Othman
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