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What is the Parker Solar Probe?
What is the Parker Solar Probe?
NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission aims to increase our knowledge and understanding of the Sun by sending a robust spacecraft, the Parker Solar Probe, to take measurements and readings from the Sun's outermost layer of atmosphere.
Why do we need to study the Sun?
Why do we need to study the Sun?
Primarily, NASA aims to learn more about the Sun's outermost layer of atmosphere, called the corona, and how it impacts solar wind within our solar system. On top of this, a deeper understanding of the patterns outside of our home planet will allow us to forecast changes inside of it, such as climate change and needed technological advances.
It is also crucial to study the Sun because as of 2021 it is the only star accessible to us. By learning more about the Sun, we will be learning more about stars in the universe that we can't even reach!
Every year, every month, and even every day we are learning more about our universe and its origins. Being much older than our Earth, the Sun is likely to hold some hints towards the mystery of our beginnings that scientists all over the world could utilise to declare current theories, such as the Big Bang, true.
Similar to the effect of space debris flying at up to 17,500mph in Low Earth Orbit, solar wind can have a massive impact on space travel in the future. In order to combat the danger that such gigantic masses of space that solar wind takes up poses, we need to learn more about its source.
Logistics of the Parker Solar Probe
Logistics of the Parker Solar Probe
How close to the sun's surface will the Parker Solar Probe be? The Probe will remain 3.8 million miles away from the surface, in the corona.
How fast will the Probe be flying? According to NASA, the Parker Solar Probe will reach speeds of 430,000mph!
What will the journey be like? The Parker Solar Probe's journey will take approximately seven years to complete seven orbits around the Sun using Venus' gravitational pull. Having launched in August 2018, the Probe has already completed two flybys in 2021.
How will the Probe protect itself from the extreme conditions of the Sun? Although the Parker Solar Probe will remain in the Sun's outermost layer of atmosphere, it will still be subject to extreme conditions such as intense heat, radiation, and waves of solar wind. To combat this, the spacecraft is armed with a 4.5in-thick carbon composite shield.
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