Parker Solar Probe: mission to 'touch' the sun

The Parker Solar Probe is a spacecraft launched by NASA in 2018, with the mission to study the Sun up close. It is named after solar astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who first described the solar wind in 1958. The probe will orbit around the Sun and come within 6.16 million kilometers of the Sun's surface (about 10 times closer than any previous spacecraft) at its closest approach. It will study the Sun's atmosphere and magnetic field, as well as take measurements of the solar wind. The probe is equipped with a heat shield that will allow it to survive the extreme temperatures near the Sun. It will also be able to send data back to Earth in real time, thanks to a new communications system. The Parker Solar Probe is an important mission that will help us better understand the Sun and its effects on space weather.

What is the Parker Solar Probe?

The Parker Solar Probe is a spacecraft launched by NASA to study the sun. It is the first spacecraft to fly close to the sun, and will help scientists understand how the sun works and how it affects the solar system. The probe is named after Dr. Eugene Parker, who first proposed the idea of a subatomic particle moving faster than light in 1958.

The mission of the Parker Solar Probe

The Parker Solar Probe is a spacecraft launched by NASA to study the sun. Its mission is to collect data about the sun's atmosphere and its magnetic field. The probe will also study the solar wind, a stream of charged particles that flow from the sun. The mission is named after Dr. Eugene Parker, who predicted the existence of the solar wind in 1958.

The spacecraft will orbit close to the sun, making 24 trips around it over the course of seven years. Each orbit will bring it closer to the sun's surface than any previous spacecraft. The probe will fly through the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, where it will take measurements of the plasma and magnetic fields.

The data collected by the Parker Solar Probe will help scientists better understand how our star works and how it influences the planets in our solar system.

The different types of solar probes

There are three types of solar probes:

1. Heliocentric orbiters probe the Sun from an orbit around it, studying the solar wind and magnetic fields. Examples include SOHO, ACE and Helios.

2. Solar flybys pass close to the Sun but do not enter orbit, instead making a gravity assist manoeuvre off the Sun to continue on their mission elsewhere. The Ulysses and Messenger probes are examples of this type of probe.

3. Solar impactors enter the Sun's atmosphere and study the conditions there directly. Only one mission, Deep Space 1, has used this approach so far.

Why touch the sun?

There are many reasons why the Parker Solar Probe is making its close approach to the sun. Firstly, by understanding more about the sun's atmosphere and how it works, we can better predict space weather events that can impact our planet. Secondly, the Parker Solar Probe will help us to unlock the secrets of the sun's magnetic field, and how it is generated. Finally, by making these measurements at such close range, we will be able to improve our models of solar activity and better forecast solar storms.

The science

The Parker Solar Probe mission will provide unprecedented insights into the Sun’s outer atmosphere and answer key questions about the physics of stars. The spacecraft will travel closer to the Sun than any previous mission, making it the fastest human-made object ever.

The science payload on the Parker Solar Probe includes four instrument suites that will measure electromagnetic fields, particles, and waves in the environment around the spacecraft. These measurements will allow us to understand how energy and heat are transported from the Sun’s interior to its outer atmosphere, where temperatures can reach more than a million degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition to providing new insights into the workings of our own star, the data from Parker Solar Probe will also have important implications for understanding other stars in our galaxy. By better understanding how stars like our Sun work, we can better understand how all stars evolve over time.