What is the Parker Solar Probe?
Quick Answer
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft designed to study the Sun up close. It has flown closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft and samples the corona directly.
The Full Story
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe uses repeated Venus flybys to shrink its orbit and approach the Sun. It is built to withstand extreme heat and radiation while measuring the solar wind, magnetic fields, and particles in the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The spacecraft has set records for being the closest human-made object to the Sun during portions of its orbit. Its mission is helping scientists understand how the solar corona is heated and how the solar wind is accelerated.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The spacecraft flying straight into the Sun’s neighborhood"