Parker Solar Probe

Parker solar probe is named for dr.

Parker solar probe.

A unique solar observatory that will orbit within 4 million miles of our star s surface to directly study the formation of the solar wind. Nasa s parker solar probe will be the first ever mission to touch the sun. Parker solar probe will witness a brief 11 minute solar eclipse during the maneuver while passing through the shadow of the planet. Parker solar probe will swoop to within 4 million miles of the sun s surface facing heat and radiation like no spacecraft before it.

Nasa johns hopkins apl steve gribben. The spacecraft about the size of a small car will travel directly into the sun s atmosphere about 4 million miles from our star s surface. Eugene parker mission namesake. Eugene parker the first person to predict the existence of the solar wind in 1958 parker developed a theory showing how the sun s hot corona by then known to be millions of degrees fahrenheit is so hot that it overcomes the sun s gravity.

Just over a month after parker solar probe marked two action packed years in space and hot on the heels of its third venus flyby and fifth solar orbit the mission to touch the sun released another trove of data to the public on sept. Parker solar probe is alive and well after skimming by the sun at just 15 million miles from our star s surface. This latest data captured by the spacecraft s four instrument suites spans parker solar probe s fourth orbit around the sun including its. Parker solar probe performs its third venus flyby on july 11 2020 utc setting the spacecraft up for another record breaking close approach to the sun in september 2020.

Mission controllers received the status beacon from the spacecraft at 4 46 p m. The beacon indicates status a the best of all four possible status signals. Nasa gov brings you the latest images videos and news from america s space agency. It will approach to within 9 86 solar radii 6 9 million km or 4 3 million miles from the center of the sun and by 2025 will travel at closest approach as fast as 690 000 km h.

Get the latest updates on nasa missions watch nasa tv live and learn about our quest to reveal the unknown and benefit all humankind. A spacecraft that uses breakthrough technology and autonomy to endure heat and radiation like no other mission. This is far closer than any spacecraft has ever gone. The parker solar probe abbreviated psp.

Nasa gov brings you the latest images videos and news from america s space agency. Previously solar probe solar probe plus or solar probe is a nasa robotic spacecraft launched in 2018 with the mission of making observations of the outer corona of the sun. A scientific mission to unlock the mysteries of the sun s corona and solar wind.