Parker Solar Probe: Touching the Sun
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft launched on 12 August 2018 with the mission to study the outer corona of the Sun. Named after solar astrophysicist Eugene Parker, it is the first spacecraft to fly into the low solar corona, providing unprecedented close-up observations of the Sun's atmosp
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What is the Parker Solar Probe?
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft launched on 12 August 2018 with the mission to study the outer corona of the Sun. Named after solar astrophysicist Eugene Parker, it is the first spacecraft to fly into the low solar corona, providing unprecedented close-up observations of the Sun's atmosphere. The probe's primary goal is to trace the flow of energy and understand the heating of the solar corona, which is significantly hotter than the Sun's surface.
Mission and Purpose
The Parker Solar Probe aims to answer fundamental questions about solar physics by directly sampling the solar corona's particles and magnetic fields. Its mission objectives include tracing the flow of energy and heat through the corona, exploring the structure and dynamics of the solar wind, and understanding the mechanisms that accelerate and transport solar energetic particles. The data collected by the probe will help improve predictions of space weather events that can impact Earth's technology and astronauts in space.
Orbital Characteristics
The Parker Solar Probe follows a highly elliptical orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. It uses seven Venus gravity assists to gradually reduce its perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) to approximately 6.9 million kilometres. The probe's orbit has an inclination of 3.4 degrees and a period of about 88 days. Its NORAD ID is 43592. These orbital characteristics allow the probe to pass through the Sun's outer atmosphere, where it can gather data on the solar corona's properties.
Significance and Legacy
The Parker Solar Probe's mission is groundbreaking in its proximity to the Sun, providing insights that were previously unattainable. By flying through the solar corona, the probe is helping scientists to better understand the Sun's influence on the solar system and the fundamental processes at play in stellar atmospheres. The mission's findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for our understanding of solar dynamics and the broader field of heliophysics.
Current Status
As of 2023, the Parker Solar Probe continues its mission, having completed multiple close passes of the Sun. It is currently in its extended mission phase, with several more perihelion passes planned. The probe remains operational and continues to send valuable data back to Earth, contributing to a growing body of knowledge about our nearest star. The Parker Solar Probe's latest data can be explored in detail through Orbital Radar's satellite library.
📎 Cite this article · data available
Orbital Radar Newsroom. (2026). Parker Solar Probe: Touching the Sun. Orbital Radar. https://orbitalradar.com/blog/parker-solar-probe-touching-the-sun"Parker Solar Probe: Touching the Sun." Orbital Radar, 28 September 2026, https://orbitalradar.com/blog/parker-solar-probe-touching-the-sun.@misc{orbitalradar_parker_solar_probe_touching_the_sun,
title = {Parker Solar Probe: Touching the Sun},
author = {{Orbital Radar}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://orbitalradar.com/blog/parker-solar-probe-touching-the-sun}}
}
