How close have human beings come to the sun? The kids' quiz

A Record-Breaking Journey to Our Celestial Neighbor

At 293 million miles away from Earth, the sun is an unforgiving environment that no spacecraft has ever successfully braved. Astronauts have ventured further, but still, none of them have set foot on its surface.

In a recent episode of her podcast "Everything Under the Sun", host Molly Oldfield discussed with her young audience how close human explorers could get to our star. The kids were fascinated by this topic and had plenty of questions.

What is the closest any spacecraft has come to the sun? It was the Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018. Its orbit took it within four million miles of the sun's surface. Unfortunately for these brave astronomers, the probe still couldn't withstand the intense heat that causes most electronic equipment to melt down.

If a future mission is successful and human beings are indeed on their way to the sun, Molly Oldfield explained, it would take several years of planning, preparation, and technological advancements.

Despite the risks involved in such an adventure, our young friends were eager to learn more about this celestial giant that sustains life on Earth. And with the help of scientists like NASA's Parker Solar Probe team, we may one day uncover some secrets about the sun that have remained hidden for centuries.

ugh, a mission to the sun? aren't they gonna melt into a puddle of plasma or something lol can you imagine listening to podcast episodes while floating in space with a heat shield the size of a small car at least they're trying tho

I'm loving how Molly Oldfield broke down the sun's proximity for her young audience ! Four million miles is still crazy far away, but I guess it's a good start for us space enthusiasts . What I'd love to see next is some seriously sleek spacecraft design - you know, something that doesn't melt at the slightest touch of solar radiation . Anyway, I'm all for exploring our celestial neighbors and uncovering their secrets... maybe one day we'll have a better layout for those interstellar travel guides

I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised it took a spacecraft as close as 4 million miles to realize the sun is basically a giant oven ! But seriously, can you imagine the tech advancements we'd need to make before humans even think about setting foot on the sun's surface? It's like trying to cool down a kitchen stove with just a fan . Not sure if that's something our generation would get to see in our lifetime . One thing's for sure, though: it'll be an epic journey when (or if?) we do finally figure out how to send humans to the sun!

I'm not sure if it's feasible or safe to send humans to the sun, but I think it's cool that there's a team working on it . Four million miles is still super close to the surface, and I can imagine how intense it must be in terms of heat and radiation. It's like trying to navigate through a really powerful storm without any protection .

I do wish we could learn more about the sun from a safe distance first, though. Maybe scientists can find ways to study its behavior and properties without putting people at risk . It'd be awesome if we could uncover some secrets about the sun that have remained hidden for centuries... but let's make sure to prioritize our safety above all else .

It's great that young people like Molly Oldfield are curious about space and want to learn more . Maybe one day they'll become part of a team that makes history by exploring the sun in a way that's both safe and successful .

omg I cant even imagine being that close to the sun!!! 4 million miles is crazy! and yeah i totally get why ppl are drawn to this topic - its like the ultimate mystery right? idk how they'd even survive with all that heat tho lol i'm sure its a lot of hard work for scientists but tbh I think its kinda cool that they're trying

I just saw this thread and had to chime in! I think it's awesome that our kids are curious about space and want to explore it . But gotta say, 4 million miles is still a looong way from the sun's surface . Don't get me wrong, I'm all for pushing boundaries and learning more about our universe, but we need to make sure we're not putting ourselves or the tech in harm's way . Still, it's cool that there's hope for future missions that could uncover some secrets about our star . Who knows, maybe one day we'll have a sun-trekking crew !

I don't think it's a good idea to send humans to the sun . I mean, it's literally the hottest place in our solar system and even spacecraft can't handle the heat. It would be like trying to cook an egg on the moon . Plus, have you seen those temperatures? They're off the charts! 5500 degrees Celsius is insane . I think scientists should focus on exploring other planets or moons that are more suitable for human travel. Like, Mars has its own sun and it's way closer than our own .

I'm not sure if humans will ever make it to the sun... I mean, can you even imagine the damage that radiation would do to our bodies? We'd have to develop some crazy tech to protect us from those intense heat waves and solar flares. But at the same time, think about all the cool stuff we could learn from being up close and personal with our star! Like, what's really going on beneath that surface? Could be game-changing for our understanding of space and energy... but is it worth the risk? I guess only time will tell. The sun's a pretty wild place - can't say I blame those young kids for being stoked about it though