10. How close can a spacecraft get to the Sun before the heat begins to affect or melt it? (A K2S Question)

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Scientists have only recently been able to master the cooling capabilities needed to send the Messenger spacecraft to an orbital rendezvous with the planet Mercury in 2011. Based on the learning data that comes back from this spacecraft which will be operating within 36 million miles of the Sun, scientists will start planning more ambitious trips to put spacecraft even closer to our nearest star.

Answer provided by Jim Zebrowski


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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