Protect a spacecraft from the Sun

1 Knowing the enemy

The spacecraft will be in the midst of an extremely harmful environment. There will be unbearable temperatures and radiation peppering the spacecraft, so a set of precautions are needed in order to protect it.

2 The first line of defence

The heat shield will guard against direct radiation, which will come in handy when the spacecraft is at its perihelion. This heat shield will be facing the Sun at all times during its orbit, so it will be constantly bombarded.

3 Multi-layer insulation

As the name suggests, the spacecraft is coated in multiple layers of material that will allow the contents to be guarded against temperatures that reach as high at 500 degrees Celsius (932 degrees Fahrenheit).

4 High-efficiency radiators

Some of the Sun’s rays are inevitably going to be absorbed, and this could cause a problem if it heats up the spacecraft and its instruments. Waste heat will be rejected using high-efficiency radiators, which are directed towards cold space.