description Parker Solar Probe Overview
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA observatory spacecraft investigating the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona. Launched in 2018, it utilizes an innovative design to repeatedly approach closer to the Sun than ever before. This allows scientists to study solar activity and its effects on the heliosphere firsthand. The probe provides critical data for heliophysics research benefiting space physicists and planetary scientists seeking to understand our star’s influence.
help Parker Solar Probe FAQ
When did NASA launch the Parker Solar Probe?
NASA successfully launched the Parker Solar Probe on August 12, 2018, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket. It was designed to travel closer to the Sun's surface than any previous spacecraft in history.
How close does the Parker Solar Probe get to the Sun?
At its closest approach, the probe will come within just 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface, known as the photosphere. To survive this extreme heat, it is equipped with a specialized 8-foot-wide carbon-composite shield.
What scientific data is the Parker Solar Probe trying to collect?
The probe is actively studying the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, to understand why it is hundreds of times hotter than the actual surface of the Sun. It also aims to discover the mechanisms that accelerate the solar wind and solar energetic particles.
How does the Parker Solar Probe survive the extreme temperatures near the Sun?
The spacecraft is protected by a specialized Thermal Protection System, a massive carbon-composite shield that is over eight feet in diameter. While the front of the shield faces temperatures of nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, the scientific instruments tucked safely behind it remain at a comfortable room temperature.
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