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NASA Probe Illuminates Solar Surface

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Solar Orbiter's first view of the sun. (European Space Agency)
Solar Orbiter's first view of the sun. (European Space Agency)

The future looks bright for a new solar probe that recently began orbiting the sun.

The first images taken by the orbiter stunned scientists at the European Space Agency and NASA. They showed miniature solar flares all over the sun's surface — an unexpected early discovery in a mission that will take the probe inside the sun's atmosphere in what NASA has called humanity's first visit to a star.

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson speaks with Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla, NASA deputy project scientist for the solar orbiter.

This segment aired on July 27, 2020.

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