← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN0.6942 AU
DISTANCE FROM EARTH0.9446 AU
VELOCITY16.488 km/s
LIGHT TIME8 min
ACTIVE
UPDATED3h ago
0.6942
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
103,850,842 km
59,357
KM/H
VELOCITY
8 years, 80 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
8
MINUTES LIGHT TIME
ONE-WAY SIGNAL DELAY
685
KG
LAUNCH MASS
2
TARGETS
Venus, Sun
Parker Solar Probe is a orbiter mission by NASA / APL targeting Sun. Launched August 12, 2018. Currently 0.6942 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT PARKER SOLAR PROBE
Parker Solar Probe is the fastest human-made object ever built, reaching speeds over 692,000 km/h as it swoops within 6.1 million km of the Sun’s surface. Protected by a revolutionary carbon-composite heat shield, it became the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun’s corona. It uses repeated Venus gravity assists to progressively tighten its orbit around the Sun.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- First spacecraft to enter the solar corona (April 2021)
- Switchbacks in solar wind magnetic field
- Dust-free zone near the Sun
- Solar wind originates from holes in corona
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- Closest approach to the Sun of any spacecraft (6.1 million km)
- Fastest human-made object ever (692,000 km/h)
- Carbon composite heat shield withstands 1,370u00b0C
- First spacecraft to fly through the solar corona
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (4)
FIELDS (Electric/magnetic field)
WISPR (Wide-field imager)
SWEAP (Solar wind electrons/protons)
ISu2609IS (Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass685 kg (1,510 lbs)
PowerSolar panels (actively cooled) (343W)
PropulsionHydrazine monopropellant, 12 thrusters
CommunicationsKa/X-band, fan-beam + high-gain antennas
Launch VehicleDelta IV Heavy
Launch DateAugust 12, 2018
Arrival DateNovember 6, 2018
ProgramLiving With a Star
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Venus
2
Sun
OTHER SUN MISSIONS