# Exploring the Parker Solar Probe: A Milestone in Solar Research
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Introduction to the Parker Solar Probe
What has the Parker Solar Probe accomplished up to this point? No human-made object has ever come this close to our Sun. Robotic missions have significantly improved our understanding of areas that are inaccessible to humans, whether it be disaster-affected regions on Earth or the harsh environments of space. Notable examples of such missions include the Europa Clipper mission, the Helicopter Drone to Titan, and the Parker Solar Probe. While the first two are proposed for launch in 2023 and 2026 respectively, the Parker Solar Probe has already allowed us to observe our star in unprecedented detail.
Launched in August 2018, NASA's Parker Solar Probe has set multiple records, currently completing its third elliptical orbit around the Sun, drawing nearer with each pass. This mission was named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who published a groundbreaking paper in 1958 discussing the Sun's magnetic properties and the high-speed solar winds that traverse our solar system.
Previous attempts to study the Sun, like the Helios 2 spacecraft—an international collaboration between German and American scientists—held the record for proximity to the Sun. Helios 2 previously reached speeds of 153,454 mph (246,960 km/h), a record that Parker broke on October 29, 2018, at 10:54 PM EDT, as confirmed by NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN), which utilizes radio signals to gauge the speed of these spacecraft. The Parker Solar Probe is set to come within 3.83 million miles (6.16 million km) of the Sun's surface in 2024.
Current Achievements of the Parker Solar Probe
Recent findings indicate that the Parker Solar Probe was approximately 15 million miles (24 million km) from the Sun, traveling at an astonishing speed of 213,000 mph (342,000 km/h). Over an extended duration, Parker’s four instrument suites have collected vital data during its most recent close approach to the Sun.
Measuring roughly the size of a small vehicle, Parker is equipped with a 4.5-inch thick (11.4 cm) carbon-composite heat shield. This shield effectively reflects the Sun’s energy, maintaining the probe's internal equipment at a stable temperature of 85°F (29.5°C) amid the intense conditions of the solar corona.
The advanced instruments on board are designed to collect data on particles, waves, and electromagnetic fields associated with the Sun’s corona and its surrounding environment, aiming to enhance our comprehension of the Sun’s internal mechanisms and processes.
The Sun's corona is the site of considerable activity—it's hotter than the Sun's surface and the location from which high-energy solar particles originate, allowing solar winds to reach supersonic speeds as they escape into the vastness of space. The Parker Solar Probe's most significant discoveries are anticipated as it continues its journey closer to the Sun.
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The first video titled "NASA's Parker Solar Probe Is Making History – What Was Discovered During Its 'Touch' of the Sun?" provides an in-depth look at the groundbreaking findings of the probe as it approaches our star.
The second video, "Updates from the Sun: Parker Solar Probe and the April 2024 Great American Eclipse," discusses the latest updates from the Parker Solar Probe and its relevance to the upcoming solar eclipse.