(Radio Iowa)  — You think it’s hot on the Midway at the Iowa State Fair? A NASA space probe, designed in part at the University of Iowa, will be launched tomorrow (Saturday) morning on a mission to the sun. U-I physicist Jasper Halekas, a co-investigator on the Parker Solar Probe, says his main experiment is focused on what’s known as the solar wind. “It’s ionized hydrogen and helium and electrons,” Halekas says. “Those compose what we call the solar wind which is this stream of hot plasma that flows out from the sun constantly at around a million miles an hour.” Halekas’ helped to design SWEAP, which stands for Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons. It’s housed in three clusters of instruments onboard the spacecraft. With a reflective heat shield comprised mostly of carbon foam, the compact car-sized probe is built to withstand the incredibly scorching heat of the sun.

“We’ll get to about 25 times closer to the sun than the Earth is, which is about seven times closer than any human-made object has ever been before,” Halekas says. “In actual terms, that’s about four million miles.” By comparison, the closest planet to the sun, Mercury is about 36 million miles from the sun, so he says this probe will get “right in there.” The spacecraft will do a fly-by of our solar system’s second planet, Venus, in order to use its gravitational pull to “slingshot” the probe closer to the sun.

“About two months into the mission, we do our first fly-by of Venus and about a month after that, only three months after launch, we do our first close pass of the sun,” Halekas says. “Then, over the course of seven more years, we do six more fly-bys of Venus and nudge ourselves closer and closer and closer into the sun.” The front of the heat shield will have to withstand temperatures of around 25-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling system is so amazingly efficient that the back of the spacecraft, in the shadow of the heat shield, will be below room temperature. Launch of the solar probe is scheduled for about 2:30 AM/Central on Saturday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop a Delta IV (four) Heavy rocket.

Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a woman was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a warrant and drug charges. Authorities say 24-year old Anastasia Imsland was arrested in Taylor County on an Adams County warrant, plus charges that include Felony Gathering where a Controlled Substance is unlawfully used, Possession of Controlled Substances (Meth and Marijuana), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her arrest followed a call to authorities at around 4-p.m. Tuesday, about an unlicensed driver traveling south from Nodaway towards J-20/130th Street, in Taylor County.

The caller described the vehicle, which was located by Adams County Deputies at 130th and Highway 148, in Taylor County. Imsland was taken into custody and transported to the Adams County Jail.

(12-p.m. News)

DOON, Iowa (AP) — BNSF Railway has acknowledged flooding played a role in a derailment that loosed thousands of gallons of oil into northwest Iowa floodwaters. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams said Friday that the derailment was “flood related” but declined to say whether the train engineer knew or should have known about washed-out tracks mentioned in a preliminary federal report released Thursday.

The National Transportation Safety Board report cited heavy rainfall in the area 48 hours before the June 22 derailment just south of Doon, Iowa. The report says the rain and runoff washed out track and flooded a tributary of the nearby Little Rock River. The report stopped short of saying the flooding caused the 32-car derailment.

The federal report also says the train was moving at 48 mph  — just below the authorized speed for that stretch.

Cass County Deputy Auditor Sheri Karns reports two people have filed to run in the November General Election, with regard to the County Ag Extension Council. Kristi Plagman, of Cumberland, and Chad Becker, of Wiota, will have their names appear on the Nov. 6th ballot. Candidates have until Aug. 29th to submit their nomination petition papers. There are five positions open on the Ag Extension Council. Each is a four-year term.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The dismissal of a lawsuit in Iowa involving the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino owner and its nonprofit partner has ended years of litigation. The Sioux City Journal reports that Missouri River Historical Development, the Belle of Sioux City, which operated the Argosy, and its parent company, Penn National Gaming Inc., have filed a joint dismissal of a lawsuit and counter lawsuit in Des Moines. Each side will pay for their own legal expenses.

Belle sued MRHD for breach of contract in 2012. Belle alleged that MRHD sought to replace the Argosy with another operator before their 20-year contract expired. The lawsuits had been scheduled to go to trial next month. But a ruling in May found two issues with the Belle’s lawsuit and the MRHD’s counter lawsuit.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Officials say the old Canadian Pacific train depot in Mason City can be moved elsewhere instead of being demolished. Station KIMT reports that a feasibility study begun in July has found the building could withstand the process of relocation. A historical association wants the depot’s unique architecture saved and for the area to retain that piece of history. It’s believed the depot was built in 1895.

City officials say three sites have been identified for a potential move but say the building likely won’t be moved until next year. Canadian Pacific announced plans to demolish the structure earlier this year. It’s been vacant since the railroad relocated its operations to another structure in 2013.