Parker Solar Probe

Parker Solar Probe
Model of the Parker Solar Probe
NamesSolar Probe (before 2002)
Solar Probe Plus (2010–2017)
Parker Solar Probe (since 2017)
Mission typeHeliophysics
OperatorNASA / Applied Physics Laboratory
COSPAR ID2018-065A
SATCAT no.43592
Websiteparkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu
Mission duration7 years (planned)
Elapsed: 7 years, 1 month and 7 days
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerApplied Physics Laboratory
Launch mass685 kg (1,510 lb)[1]
Dry mass555 kg (1,224 lb)
Payload mass50 kg (110 lb)
Dimensions1 × 3 × 2.3 m (3.3 × 9.8 × 7.5 ft)
Power343 W (at closest approach)
Start of mission
Launch date12 August 2018, 07:31 UTC[2][3]
RocketDelta IV Heavy / Star 48BV[4]
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC‑37
ContractorUnited Launch Alliance
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric orbit
Semi-major axis0.388 AU (58.0 million km; 36.1 million mi)
Perihelion altitude0.046 AU (6.9 million km; 4.3 million mi; 9.86 R☉)[note 1]
Aphelion altitude0.73 AU (109 million km; 68 million mi)[5]
Inclination3.4°
Period88 days
Transponders
BandKa-band, X-band

Mission insignia
Large Strategic Science Missions
Heliophysics Division
Living With a Star program

The Parker Solar Probe (PSP; previously Solar Probe, Solar Probe Plus or Solar Probe+)[6] is a NASA space probe launched in 2018 to make observations of the Sun's outer corona.

It used repeated gravity assists from Venus to develop an eccentric orbit, approaching within 9.86 solar radii (6.9 million km or 4.3 million miles)[7][8] from the center of the Sun. At its closest approach in 2024, its speed relative to the Sun was 690,000 km/h (430,000 mph) or 191 km/s (118.7 mi/s), which is 0.064% the speed of light.[7][9] It is the fastest object ever built on Earth.[10]

The project was announced in the fiscal 2009 budget year. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory designed and built the spacecraft,[11] which was launched on 12 August 2018.[2] It became the first NASA spacecraft named after a living person, honoring physicist Eugene Newman Parker, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago.[12]

On 29 October 2018, at about 18:04 UTC, the spacecraft became the closest ever artificial object to the Sun. The previous record, 42.73 million kilometers (26.55 million miles) from the Sun's surface, was set by the Helios 2 spacecraft in April 1976.[13] At its perihelion on 27 September 2023, the PSP's closest approach was 7.26 million kilometers (4.51 million miles),[14] reaching this distance again on 29 March 2024.[15]

On 24 December 2024 at 11:53 UTC, PSP made its closest approach to the Sun, coming to a distance of 6.1 million km (3.8 million miles) from the surface. Its beacon signal was received on 26 December, showing that it had survived the passage through the corona.[16][17] Detailed telemetry was received 1 January 2025.[18]

In 2025, the teams from NASA, Johns Hopkins, and partners were awarded the 2024 Collier Trophy for their achievements.[19]

  1. ^ Parker Solar Probe – Extreme Engineering Archived August 24, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. NASA.
  2. ^ a b Chang, Kenneth (August 12, 2018). "Parker Solar Probe Launches on NASA Voyage to 'Touch the Sun'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  3. ^ "Parker Solar Probe Ready for Launch on Mission to the Sun". NASA. August 10, 2018. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Clark, Stephen (March 18, 2015). "Delta 4-Heavy selected for launch of solar probe". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  5. ^ a b Applied Physics Laboratory (November 19, 2008). Feasible Mission Designs for Solar Probe Plus to Launch in 2015, 2016, 2017, or 2018 (PDF) (Report). Johns Hopkins University. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2021. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Clark, Stuart (July 22, 2018). "Parker Solar Probe: set the controls for the edge of the sun..." The Guardian. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "NASA Press Kit: Parker Solar Probe" (PDF). nasa.gov. NASA. August 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ "Parker Solar Probe—eoPortal Directory—Satellite Missions". directory.eoportal.org. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Garner, Rob (August 9, 2018). "Parker Solar Probe: Humanity's First Visit to a Star". NASA. Archived from the original on June 5, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "NASA solar probe becomes fastest object ever built as it 'touches the sun'". CNET. May 2, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  11. ^ Bogel-Burroughs, Nicholas; Dunn, Marcia. "NASA probe operated from Johns Hopkins lab in Laurel rockets toward sun for closest look yet". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  12. ^ "NASA Renames Solar Probe Mission to Honor Pioneering Physicist Eugene Parker". NASA. May 31, 2017. Archived from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ^ Rogers, James (October 29, 2018). "NASA's Parker Solar Probe breaks record, becomes closest spacecraft to the Sun". Fox News. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference apo23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "Hey Nineteen! Parker Solar Probe Completes Record-Matching Sun Flyby". parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  16. ^ "NASA spacecraft 'safe' after closest-ever approach to Sun". Reuters. December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  17. ^ "NASA's Parker Solar Probe Reports Successful Closest Approach to Sun – Parker Solar Probe". blogs.nasa.gov. December 27, 2024. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Interrante, Abbey (January 2, 2025). "NASA's Parker Solar Probe Reports Healthy Status After Solar Encounter". NASA. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  19. ^ "NASA's Parker Solar Probe Team Wins 2024 Collier Trophy - NASA Science". March 25, 2025. Retrieved April 17, 2025.


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