Objectives and Aims of the Mission

Named after the renowned astronomer Eugene Parker, the Parker Solar Probe is embarking on a seven-year journey to approach the Sun closer than any spacecraft has ever ventured. Its primary goal is to explore the Sun’s outer corona, a region that has remained enigmatic despite extensive solar studies. The mission targets three key scientific objectives:

1. Tracing the Solar Wind: The Sun emits a continuous flow of charged particles known as the solar wind, which has significant effects on the entire solar system. The Parker Solar Probe aims to investigate the origins and acceleration of the solar wind, as well as its transformation as it travels through interplanetary space.
2. Studying Solar Flares: Solar flares are intense eruptions on the Sun's surface that release enormous amounts of energy. These eruptions can alter space weather and affect satellite operations. The spacecraft is designed to gather data that will help us understand the mechanisms behind these explosive events.
3. Investigating the Solar Corona: The solar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun, extends millions of kilometers into space and is surprisingly hotter than the Sun's surface, which has puzzled scientists. The Parker Solar Probe seeks to uncover the processes responsible for this coronal heating.

The Daring Expedition

To achieve its ambitious goals, the Parker Solar Probe must navigate through an environment filled with extreme heat and radiation. The spacecraft executes a series of close flybys of Venus to reduce its orbital distance to the Sun. By the end of its journey, it is expected to be more than seven times closer to the Sun than any previous mission, reaching a distance of approximately 6.2 million kilometers (3.85 million miles).

Current Progress and Findings

As of now, the Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed multiple close approaches to the Sun, known as "perihelia," and has collected a wealth of scientific data. During these flybys, the spacecraft endures temperatures exceeding 1,370 degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit), safeguarded by a specially designed heat shield that keeps its instruments at optimal temperatures.

Track the current status and its future mission here and the timeline of the probe mission here.

Scientific Data and Revelations

The Parker Solar Probe represents a groundbreaking mission, providing scientists with a fresh perspective on our star. The data collected is enhancing our understanding of solar operations and helping us devise strategies to protect Earth from solar storms.

Some of the notable findings from the Parker Solar Probe include:

• Solar Wind Speed: The Parker Solar Probe has recorded solar wind speeds reaching up to 430 miles per second (700 kilometers per second), significantly faster than previously estimated.

• Temperature of the Solar Atmosphere: The spacecraft has measured the solar atmosphere's temperature at around 2 million degrees Fahrenheit (1 million degrees Celsius), much hotter than earlier assumptions.

• Coronal Structure: The Parker Solar Probe has captured images of the corona with unprecedented clarity, revealing that it is far more dynamic than previously believed.