A New Era In Solar Exploration

NASA's Parker Solar Probe: Touching the Sun

A New Era in Solar Exploration

NASA's Parker Solar Probe is a groundbreaking mission that aims to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun. Designed to swoop within about 4 million miles (65 million kilometers) of the Sun's surface, the spacecraft will provide unprecedented insights into the Sun's enigmatic atmosphere and the flow of energy that powers it.

Historical Breakthrough: Touching the Sun

For the first time in history, a spacecraft has touched the Sun. On April 28, 2021, NASA's Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to enter the Sun's upper atmosphere, known as the corona. This historic milestone marked a significant leap forward in our exploration of our closest star.

Landmark Mission: Flying Through the Corona

The Parker Solar Probe is a remarkable scientific achievement. Scheduled to launch on August 11, 2018, the spacecraft is designed to fly through the corona itself, a region of extreme heat and magnetic activity. This daring mission will provide invaluable data on the enigmatic phenomena that shape the Sun's behavior.

Unique Observations from STEREO-A

From its vantage point about 90 degrees away from Earth, the STEREO-A spacecraft provided crucial observations of Parker Solar Probe's journey. By tracking the regions of the corona that Parker was flying through, STEREO-A played a vital role in monitoring the spacecraft's progress and ensuring its safety.

Ongoing Exploration: Searching for Clues to Solar Mysteries

To date, the Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed 20 close encounters with the Sun. Each encounter has yielded valuable data, helping scientists unravel the decades-old mystery of why the Sun's corona is significantly hotter than its surface. The spacecraft's continued exploration promises to shed even more light on this fascinating celestial body.