NASA WB-57F Aircraft Studies the Sun’s Corona During a Total Solar Eclipse
During a total solar eclipse over Europe on August 12, NASA scientists investigated one of solar physics’ most enduring mysteries: why the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, is significantly hotter than its visible surface. Gathering the right data required precise timing, advanced instruments, and a carefully positioned research aircraft.
Pilots from NASA’s Johnson Space Center flew a WB-57F high-altitude research aircraft from Ellington Field in Houston to Iceland. The mission gave scientists an unobstructed view of the solar corona during totality, when the Moon completely blocks the Sun’s bright surface.
A total solar eclipse creates a rare opportunity to study the corona because the Moon’s shadow temporarily hides the intense light of the solar surface, revealing the much fainter outer atmosphere. Observations collected during the eclipse will help researchers understand how energy and matter move through the corona and into space, improving scientific knowledge of space weather.
The NASA WB-57F flew at an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet, above most clouds, dust, and water vapor that can interfere with ground-based observations. Flying at this height reduced atmospheric distortion and enabled the aircraft’s instruments to capture infrared wavelengths that are largely absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere.
Collecting these solar eclipse observations required extensive coordination between NASA scientists, pilots, engineers, and maintenance crews. Before the mission, researchers calculated the aircraft’s ideal position as the Moon’s shadow moved across the North Atlantic Ocean.
“It takes a large team to work on a mission like this. It starts with the science team establishing the requirements, and then we work closely with the science team in the months leading up to the mission,” said NASA WB-57F pilot Tom Parent. “We rely heavily on our maintenance teams to service, prepare, load, and flight test our instruments. It’s a huge team effort to get these aircraft into the field, create images, and accomplish these objectives.”
During totality, NASA WB-57F pilot John Gustin positioned the aircraft along the eclipse path to maximize the time it spent in the Moon’s shadow. This strategy gave scientists more opportunities to record valuable data about the Sun’s corona.
Cary Klemm, a sensor equipment operator on the NASA WB-57F, controlled the camera system from the rear seat. Klemm adjusted the focus and exposure time while tracking important features in the corona throughout the eclipse.
Because totality lasted only a short time, every second was critical for capturing high-quality images and measurements.
“Every image is another piece of data that could reveal something new about the Sun,” Klemm said.
The scientific value of these observations extends beyond the eclipse itself. The Sun’s corona is made of plasma shaped by powerful magnetic fields, and similar physical processes occur throughout the universe. Studying the corona can therefore provide insights into fundamental astrophysical phenomena.
“The NASA WB-57F’s unique high-altitude flight capability was really important in providing access to these valuable wavelengths during eclipses that pass primarily over ocean in areas where clouds are common,” said study principal investigator Amir Caspi of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. “This success would not have been possible without this platform and the efforts of many brave land, air, and science crews.”
The data gathered during the NASA solar eclipse mission will give scientists another opportunity to examine the processes that influence the space environment around the Sun and Earth. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of solar activity and space weather.
Source: www.nasa.gov