Solar Surfing | A Clever Concept for Keeping Sun-Studying Spacecraft Safe

How close can spacecraft get to the Sun without burning up? That may be a topic of hot debate but researchers are working on a concept to get closer than ever before.

NASA 360 takes a look at the NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) that explores the capabilities and benefits of a new solar protection system. To learn more visit: https://go.nasa.gov/2zxiXW4

To watch the in-depth presentation about this topic please visit the 2020 NIAC Symposium Livestream site: https://livestream.com/viewnow/niac2020/videos/211285122 (Solar Surfing talk begins at 5:39:35)

This video represents a research study within the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program. NIAC is a visionary and far-reaching aerospace program, one that has the potential to create breakthrough technologies for possible future space missions. However, such early stage technology developments may never become actual NASA missions.