Final answer:
Dr. Chris's probe must resist solar radiation, endure extreme temperatures, transmit real-time data, and be durable in a vacuum. It also needs reliability and autonomy for long-duration missions, its own power source, heaters for instruments, and powerful radio transmitters for communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Chris, as part of a team designing a probe to study solar flares, must ensure that the probe can meet several critical conditions due to the harsh space environment. These include: high resistance to solar radiation, which is essential because solar flares can emit intense radiation; the ability to withstand extreme temperatures since the probe will encounter both high and low temperature extremes; a capability to transmit data in real-time to allow for timely analysis and response to the events observed; and durability in a vacuum environment because outer space is a vacuum and any equipment must be able to operate without atmospheric pressure. For a probe traveling to a distant planet like Jupiter, specific characteristics of the solar system must also be calculated to ensure proper navigation and survival. This includes understanding the gravitational forces, radiation belts, and atmospheric conditions. The Galileo probe, for example, survived only 57 minutes in Jupiter's atmosphere due to extreme conditions like high pressure and temperatures that counteracted its durability features. Similarly, when studying cold (3 K) dark space, sensors must be kept at low temperatures to reduce thermal noise, allowing for accurate observations of weak cosmic signals.
When engaging in outer solar system exploration, where mission durations can span years and communication delays with Earth can be substantial, probes like the Galileo must be highly reliable and capable of autonomy. Factors such as the need for onboard power sources and powerful radio transmitters to communicate with Earth are fundamental to the probe's design. Instrument heaters are also crucial to keep the machinery at proper operating temperatures despite the cold environs of space.