Parker Solar Probe

Latest about Parker Solar Probe

Artist's illustration of the parker solar probe in foreground and large orange sun in the background.
Parker Solar Probe: First spacecraft to 'touch' the sun

By Daisy Dobrijevic Last updated

Reference NASA's Parker Solar Probe is on a mission to study the sun closer than ever before. Learn more about the fastest spacecraft to date in our solar probe guide.

Reference
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is currently the fastest spacecraft ever launched.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe smashes record for fastest human-made object

By Tia Ghose, Brandon Specktor Published

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has reached a record-breaking speed as it gets a gravitational assist from Venus to fall closer to the sun's scorching surface.

Parker Solar Probe
wisps of bright white and grey-scale gas and embers whiz by against the black of space.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe flies through major coronal mass ejection — and survives to tell the tale

By Rahul Rao Published

The sun-kissing spacecraft watched as dust particles were displaced across 6 million miles (9.7 million kilometers).

Parker Solar Probe
Two views of the sun, the left looks like a yellow fiery ball of plasma while the right looks like a glowing white light with reddish beams around it.
Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter team up to tackle 65-year-old sun mystery

By Robert Lea Published

The Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Orbiter may have finally solved a solar puzzle that has troubled scientists for decades.

Parker Solar Probe
An artist's depiction of NASA's Parker Solar Probe flying past Venus.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe to make closest flyby of Venus on Aug. 21

By Monisha Ravisetti Published

Thanks to some precise maneuvering on Aug. 3, NASA says Parker is on-track to make its sixth and closest flyby of Venus on Aug. 21.

Parker Solar Probe
artist's illustration of nasa's parker solar probe observing the orange, highly active sun at close range.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe starts summer with 16th swoop by the sun

By Josh Dinner Published

The Parker Solar Probe conducted its 16th perihelion pass on Thursday morning (June 22), cruising through the sun’s superhot outer atmosphere, called the corona.

Parker Solar Probe
artist's illustration of nasa's parker solar probe observing the orange, highly active sun at close range.
NASA's sun-kissing Parker Solar Probe finds source of 'fast' solar wind

By Robert Lea Published

Using data collected by NASA's sun-touching Parker Solar Probe, scientists have tracked the "fast" solar wind back to showerhead-like funnels generated by coronal holes.

Parker Solar Probe
Nicola Fox, NASA's new science chief.
NASA selects solar physicist Nicola Fox as its new science chief

By Robert Lea Published

NASA has announced that Heliophysics Division leader Nicola Fox will be the agency's new head of science, overseeing more than 100 missions.

Parker Solar Probe
An artist's concept of NASA's Parker Solar Probe observing the sun.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe makes its 15th close flyby of the sun this St. Patrick's Day

By Robert Lea Published

Raise a cold one for the spacecraft as it makes its 15th perihelion today braving blisteringly hot temperatures.

Parker Solar Probe
NASA's Parker Solar Probe launched on August 12, 2018 on a mission to study the sun.
Instrument on NASA's Parker Solar Probe switches off unexpectedly

By Mike Wall Published

One of the instruments on NASA's Parker Solar Probe powered down unexpectedly last weekend, but the mission team expects it to come back online soon.

Parker Solar Probe
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