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>Another challenge came in the form of the electronic wiring — most cables would melt from exposure to heat radiation at such close proximity to the Sun. To sol
by MichaelMoser123 8y ago
>Another challenge came in the form of the electronic wiring — most cables would melt from exposure to heat radiation at such close proximity to the Sun. To solve this problem, the team grew sapphire crystal tubes to suspend the wiring, and made the wires from niobium.
are these wires on the outside of the spacecraft? but what about the silicon of all the electronic stuff that this thing must be keeping? The cooling surface would also get a bit hot (it would always get some more energy at some rate), so how does the coolant transmit any heat away from the probe?
- implements 8y agoNot a scientist, but I assume using "radiative heat transfer" ie a hot surface shielded from the sun emitting thermal radiation away from the spacecraft.
- MichaelMoser123 8y agoYes, but the shield would have two sides, where one of them is facing the sun.
- ourmandave 8y agoMelting points: sapphire - 3,722°F (2,050°C) niobium - 4,491°F (2,477°C)
- SomeHacker44 8y agoImportantly, they likely have very different thermal conductivity and and specific heats. They probably also need to have reasonably similar thermal expansion coefficients so heating and cooling cycles do not cause them to strain and break.