00:00NASA has launched a space probe directly towards the sun.
00:08It is the object designed by the fastest man ever made,
00:12able to cross the distance between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., in a single second.
00:18The Parker Solar Probe is on a mission to analyze the extreme phenomena of our star.
00:22Scientists warn that gigantic solar storms are inevitable
00:27and could have disastrous consequences for our planet.
00:31The probe has approached the sun seven times more than any previous mission.
00:35It has accomplished this feat during its 22nd passage near the star since its launch in 2018.
00:43Because of its colossal mass, the sun exerts a phenomenal gravity,
00:47comparable to the attraction of a huge magnet.
00:50As it orbits around the sun, the probe exploits gravity to gradually increase its speed
00:56and reach vertiginous peaks.
00:58When it ventured closer to the solar crown, the external layer of the atmosphere of the sun,
01:03it had to resist temperatures nearing 1,400 degrees Celsius,
01:08enough to liquefy many metals.
01:10It was protected from this extreme heat and solar radiation
01:14by a carbon shield 11 cm thick,
01:17thus guaranteeing the proper functioning of its instruments,
01:21maintained at a temperature close to that of an ordinary room.
01:24The researchers have made considerable efforts
01:27in the hope of elucidating a scientific riddle that has intrigued them for a long time.
01:31The surface of the sun is already burning, but as it moves away from the solar crown,
01:36the temperature climbs inexplicably up to several million degrees.
01:40This thermal paradox, which defies logic,
01:42could finally find an explanation thanks to the data collected by the mission.
01:46It also aims to deepen our understanding of solar wind.
01:51The sun constantly emits energetic particles and is charged in space,
01:55forming a continuous flow similar to an electromagnetic breeze.
01:59When this wind reaches the Earth, it generates spectacular polar auroras.
02:04The more intense the solar activity is,
02:06the more these luminous phenomena are visible far south.
02:09Our star follows natural cycles of about 11 years,
02:13which directly influence its celestial manifestations.
02:16This activity also occurs between phases of low and high intensity.
02:20Currently, we are in a period of maximum solar,
02:24the culminating point of this cycle.
02:26This is why, in 2024, spectacular auroras have been observed in unusual regions.
02:32However, this intensification can cause ejections of charged particles
02:36and energy likely to disrupt infrastructures such as radio systems,
02:41satellites and even GPS.
02:44This phenomenon represents a danger for astronauts,
02:46who are much more exposed than us, who benefit from terrestrial protection.
02:50Humans would not directly perceive the deformation of the electromagnetic field of the planet
02:55caused by this radiation, but electrical networks are extremely vulnerable to it.
03:00In the absence of rapid reaction, this influx of energy
03:02risks saturating electric transformers worldwide, causing widespread breakdowns.
03:08Such a disturbance occurring during a natural disaster,
03:11such as a hurricane or a tornado,
03:13could seriously complicate rescue operations by making communications even more difficult
03:18and by compromising efforts to save lives.
03:21This is why it is essential to perfect our ability to anticipate these phenomena,
03:26called space weather.
03:28This task is slow, because unlike earthquakes, floods or volcanic eruptions,
03:34these solar storms leave no material trace.
03:37The only ones we have a real knowledge of date back to 1859 and 1921.
03:43The first, known as the Carrington Event,
03:47was of such intensity that it caused sparks on the telegraphic lines.
03:51The auroras were observable up to latitudes close to the equator.
03:56At that time, scientists used a photosensitive paper to record solar activity.
04:02During this event, the readings literally exceeded the limits of measuring instruments.
04:07The extent of the phenomenon is still misunderstood today.
04:10The May 1921 geomagnetic storm, on the other hand,
04:14caused significant disturbances,
04:16putting off-duty telegraphic networks in the United States,
04:19Europe and even the Southern Hemisphere.
04:22Paradoxically, this storm temporarily amplified the range of radio transmissions,
04:26allowing them to travel well beyond their usual range.
04:30At the time, the low number of radios limited the interest of this phenomenon.
04:34The real problem was the extent of the damage suffered by the American electrical grid.
04:39In 1859 and 1921, technology did not occupy such a central place in everyday life as it does today.
04:46If a storm of this magnitude occurred at our time,
04:49the consequences could be infinitely more disastrous.
04:52New Zealand researchers specializing in space meteorology
04:56are developing simulations to anticipate and mitigate these risks.
05:00One of the approaches considered is to study other stars similar to the Sun in space.
05:05The analysis of data from thousands of stars, and not just one,
05:09would allow a more precise picture of the phenomena at stake.
05:13So far, several missions have been launched or are in preparation,
05:17in addition to the Parker Solar Probe,
05:20the Satellite GOES-19 2024,
05:23the Solar Orbiter of the ESA 2020,
05:25and the Satellite Space Wither Follow-On 2025.
05:29At the same time, NASA is pursuing another project,
05:32the deployment of Endurance, a robotic lunar vehicle with decoupled power.
05:37Its main mission will consist of collecting samples from strategic sites
05:42that the astronauts of the Artemis program will later recover.
05:47The samples will be spread over the largest impact basin on the Moon,
05:51the Pole-South-Haitken Basin, which spans nearly 1,900 km.
05:56The dispersion of the sampling sites, separated by hundreds of kilometers,
06:00requires Endurance to be much more advanced than Perseverance,
06:03NASA's most sophisticated rover.
06:06Endurance will have to travel a distance 100 times higher,
06:09drive 10 times faster,
06:11and collect a mass of samples 200 times larger.
06:14It will also be the first planetary rover capable of operating at night.
06:18Placed on the hidden side of the Moon,
06:20where communications with Earth and surface data will be limited,
06:24it will have to navigate autonomously between the different sampling sites
06:28and make its own decisions in a hostile environment.
06:31Once reached its destination,
06:33it will adopt a more conventional approach for the execution of its tasks.
06:37Earth-based scientists will play an active role
06:40by directing the rover in the exploration of sites and collecting samples.
06:44They will also ensure a constant monitoring of its performance
06:47by analyzing its telemetry,
06:49i.e. the data it transmits,
06:51including its state of operation.
06:53In case of wear detected on a component or a malfunction,
06:56they will adjust the operations
06:58to ensure the successful mission.
07:01This project will require colossal investments,
07:04probably well over $450 million
07:07already swallowed up by the lunar mission VEPR
07:10before its cancellation by NASA.
07:12While Endurance is still in the design phase,
07:15the Blue Ghost lunar landing module is already on its way to the Moon.
07:19Its main mission is research.
07:22For 25 days, it will evolve in Earth orbit
07:25to take measurements and guess the right time to propel itself to the Moon.
07:29After 4 days of transit,
07:31it will be placed in lunar orbit for a period of 16 days,
07:35during which it will collect new data.
07:37It will then descend into one of the largest lunar basins,
07:40Mar Crisium,
07:42where it will remain a lunar day,
07:44i.e. 14 terrestrial days.
07:46These instruments will measure the temperatures of the subsurface,
07:49radiation levels and other essential parameters.
07:52At the end of the mission,
07:54Blue Ghost will capture images of the lunar sunset.
07:57Designed without the ability to return to Earth,
08:00it will accomplish a few final tasks
08:02before finally extinguishing itself at nightfall.
08:05As part of another ambitious space project,
08:08NASA has selected a team of aerospace engineers
08:12from the University of Florida
08:14to lead the GRATIS program,
08:16Gravitational Reference Advanced Technology Test in Space.
08:21This project, with a budget of $12 million,
08:24aims to improve tracking of tectonic plates and terrestrial oceans
08:29thanks to space observations.
08:31GRATIS will be equipped with ultra-high-performance sensors
08:34capable of detecting the slightest gravitational variations
08:37at the nanometric scale,
08:39or a billionth of a meter.
08:41These data will allow to refine dryness monitoring,
08:44to assess subsurface water reserves
08:46and to analyze fluctuations in ocean levels.
08:49The launch is scheduled for around 2027,
08:51aboard a rocket, SpaceX Falcon 9.
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