NASA's Parker Solar Probe Mission to the Sun in Pictures

Another Step Forward

On July 6, 2018, the Parker Solar Probe sits in a clean room at Astrotech Space Operations in Florida following installation of its heat shield.

Destination: Solar Corona

Technicians and engineers test the Parker Solar Probe with light bars at the Astrotech processing facility in Titusville, Florida. The craft is scheduled to begin its journey to the Sun's corona in August 2018.

Mission Ready

In the clean room, NASA's Parker Solar Probe is ready for the launch pad as it has cleared the final procedures.

Arrival of the Payload

Inside its payload fairing, the Parker Solar Probe arrives at Space Launch Complex 37 on July 30, 2018. The mission is set to observe the Sun's corona, offering revolutionary understanding of the star and the Sun-Earth connection.

Clear Skies

The Delta IV Heavy space vehicle, with the Parker Solar Probe atop, is raised to vertical at the Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral.

Parker Solar Probe's heat shield installation

Parker Solar Probe's heat shield installation.

Parker Solar Probe's heat shield

Parker Solar Probe's heat shield will reflect as much of the sun's energy as possible away from the spacecraft as it approaches, as well as minimizing heat convection with two panels of superheated carbon-carbon composite surrounding a carbon foam core.

Parker Solar Probe's heat shield

The Parker Solar Probe's heat shield was tested in a vacuum chamber in December 2017.

Dreaming Big

A NASA illustrator's conception of the Parker Solar Probe in space.

The Journey Begins

The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled to launch atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket between July 31 and Aug. 19, 2018.