Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Next for NASA: Visiting the Sun

Solar Probe Plus to launch before 2018

By Kate Schwartz, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 3, 2010 7:12 AM CDT

(Newser) – NASA's plans for this decade are pretty hot. Literally. The agency plans to launch an unmanned spacecraft before 2018 that will enter the Sun's atmosphere. Though the nearest it will get is about four million miles from the Sun's surface, that's still closer than the... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

12 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Miami Face-Eater Identified

Mashable (Source Grid »)

Science

NASA • Sun • space mission • Solar Probe Plus • NASA Sun

More Newser Stories

NASA Probes to Reach Moon Over New Year's

Twin 'grails' will study moon's gravity field

(NEWSER) - Two NASA probes are poised to reach the moon over the New Year's holiday. After a journey of more than three months, the $496 million Grail probes—short for Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory—will soon be in place, reports AP . Grail A is set to arrive on New Year's Eve and Grail B the following day. More»

NASA Releases Explosive Sun Shots

Historic images reveal high-def surface, flares

(NEWSER) - NASA has released astounding new photos and videos of the sun for the first time revealing high definition, close-up views of the solar surface and exploding flares. The images were captured by the space telescope of the Solar Dynamics Observatory, and are providing historic new insight into sun mechanics, notes the Melbourne Herald Sun . More»

Discovery Blasts Off Carrying 7 Astronauts

Mission heads to International Space Station

(AP) - Discovery and seven astronauts rocketed into orbit today on one of NASA's final stockpiling missions to the International Space Station, its liftoff flames bringing an early dawn to the coast with this last scheduled shuttle launch in darkness. The pre-dawn launch helped clinch a record for the most women in space at the same time. More»

Discovery Launch Postponed

Fuel valve concerns cause further delays to mission

(NEWSER) - The Space Shuttle Discovery’s mission to deliver the final piece of a solar power array to the International Space Station was delayed again today, only hours before scheduled launch, CNN reports. The mission had already been postponed a month so technicians could determine whether three valves that control fuel supply were in danger of breaking; continued concerns over the valves caused today’s delay. More»

Cargo Ship Docks With ISS

Unmanned European vessel hooks up to International Space Station

(NEWSER) - European cargo vessel Jules Verne docked flawlessly today at the International Space Station, Space.com reports. The double-decker-sized space hauler has about 8 tons of supplies on board for astronauts at the station, including food and water, rocket propellant—even handwritten documents from the real Jules Verne, a 19th-century science fiction writer. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Next for NASA: Visiting the Sun

Solar Probe Plus to launch before 2018

NASA • Sun • space mission • Solar Probe Plus • NASA Sun

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

NASA Probes to Reach Moon Over New Year's

Twin 'grails' will study moon's gravity field

NASA Releases Explosive Sun Shots

Historic images reveal high-def surface, flares

Discovery Blasts Off Carrying 7 Astronauts

Mission heads to International Space Station

Discovery Launch Postponed

Fuel valve concerns cause further delays to mission

Cargo Ship Docks With ISS

Unmanned European vessel hooks up to International Space Station

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?