Parker solar probe sun

The Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to touch the Sun, gathering unprecedented data on the solar corona and solar wind.

About this subject

The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA mission launched on August 12, 2018, designed to study the Sun up close. It is the first spacecraft to enter the solar atmosphere, the corona, where temperatures exceed 1 million degrees Celsius. To withstand this extreme heat, the probe uses a carbon-composite heat shield 4.5 inches thick, keeping its instruments at about 30 °C.

The spacecraft reaches record speeds of up to 430,000 mph (about 692,000 km/h), making it the fastest human-made object ever. In its elliptical orbits, the perihelion comes as close as 3.86 million miles (6.2 million km) from the Sun's surface. This close approach allows detailed measurements of magnetic fields, energetic particles, and solar plasma, providing new insights into solar physics.

The mission is named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who theorized the solar wind in the 1950s. Data from the probe helps forecast solar storms that can disrupt satellites, communications, and power grids on Earth. By 2025, the Parker Solar Probe will complete 24 orbits, each bringing it closer to the Sun.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest distance the Parker Solar Probe has reached to the Sun?

The closest perihelion to date is about 3.86 million miles (6.2 million km) from the Sun's surface, achieved in 2021. Future orbits will bring it even closer.

How does the probe survive the extreme heat?

It uses a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-foam heat shield that reflects most solar radiation. The shield itself heats up to 2,600°F (1,400°C), but the instruments behind it stay at about 85°F (30°C).

What is the main goal of the mission?

The goal is to understand why the solar corona is hotter than the Sun's surface and how the solar wind is accelerated. This helps forecast space weather events that affect Earth.