Parker Solar Probe | Fastest man made object in the world (Feb 2020): Parker solar probe is a spacecraft launched by NASA on Aug 12, 2018, with a mission to touch the sun. It is the successor of Helios 2 with better technology. The Launch Site and the Launch Vehicle were Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Florida Delta IV-Heavy with Upper Stage, respectively.
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Parker solar probe is launched to investigate the outer corona, i.e. outer layer of the sun, firmly and repeatedly. It was named after the name of scientist Eugene Parker. The cost of the project is US$1.5 billion. Its mission is to examine the Corona, formation of the solar wind and magnetic field. Sun emits harmful radiations with different wavelengths. Although the sun is 150 million kilometres away from earth, these radiations cause harm to us. So, the mission is also to study these radiations.
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NASA believes that it will get all information and make out all observations before it will melt. Let’s know more about it. The following questions must have stuck in your minds.
Parker probe is the first and only spacecraft after Helios 2 to travel sun. Before there was no such spacecraft invented. It can resist the large amount of heat and temperatures which any other spacecraft could not.
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It is not only a unique invention but also the fastest man made object in the world which can reach a maximum and massive speed of 430,000 miles per hour. The current fastest speed recorded by is 343,181 kph on November 6, 2018.
The closest approach from the sun’s surface was recorded as 24,122,594 km on 6 November 2018.
All the above information was got during the two solar encounters held between October 31, 2018, and November 12, 2018, and March 30, 2019, and April 19, 2019, respectively.
The next solar encounter will take place on January 23, 2020, at 14:00 UTC.
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You can see the live location of parker probe from the following link: http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/index.php#Where-Is-PSP
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The duration of the mission is seven years. It will reach 60 lakh kilometres (6 million km) away from the sun in seven years. The Parker solar probe will orbit 24 times around the sun’s outer layer, i.e., in seven years.
It will reach the sun or complete its last orbit on June 19, 2025 (Perihelion #24). It comes closer to the sun every year.
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A 4.5-inch broad carbon-composite shield that reflects the heat off the front and protects the Parker probe. This shield protects it from harmful radiations and extreme temperatures emitted from the sun. This shield can resist the intense heat and protect it from high temperatures of up to 1377 degree Celsius.
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Year | Date | Event |
2015 | March | Critical Design Review |
2016 | July 1 | Start of Integration and test |
2016 | July 7 | Successfully passed KDP-D |
2017 | March | Instrument Deliveries |
2017 | August | Observatory System Testing |
2017 | End of 2017 | Shipment of Observatory to GSFC |
2018 | Spring 2018 | Shipment of Observatory to Cape Canaveral |
2018 | August 12, 7:31 UTC | Launch |
2018 | October 3, 8:44 UTC | Venus Flyby #1 |
2018 | November 5, 03:27 UTC | Perihelion #1 |
2019 | January 19 | Aphelion #1 |
2019 | January 20 | The second Orbit Begins |
2019 | April 4, 22:40 UTC | Perihelion #2 |
2019 | September 1, 17:50 UTC | Perihelion #3 |
2019 | December 26, 18:14 UTC | Venus Flyby #2 |
2020 | January 19 | Perihelion #4 |
2020 | June 7 | Perihelion #5 |
2020 | July 11 | Venus Flyby #3 |
2020 | September 27 | Perihelion #6 |
2021 | January 17 | Perihelion #7 |
2021 | February 20 | Venus Flyby #4 |
2021 | April 29 | Perihelion #8 |
2021 | August 9 | Perihelion #9 |
2021 | October 16 | Venus Flyby #5 |
2021 | November 21 | Perihelion #10 |
2022 | February 25 | Perihelion #11 |
2022 | June 1 | Perihelion #12 |
2022 | September 6 | Perihelion #13 |
2022 | December 11 | Perihelion #14 |
2023 | March 17 | Perihelion #15 |
2023 | June 22 | Perihelion #16 |
2023 | August 21 | Venus Flyby #6 |
2023 | September 27 | Perihelion #17 |
2023 | December 29 | Perihelion #18 |
2024 | March 30 | Perihelion #19 |
2024 | June 30 | Perihelion #20 |
2024 | September 30 | Perihelion #21 |
2024 | November 6 | Venus Flyby #7 |
2024 | December 24 | Perihelion #22 |
2025 | March 22 | Perihelion #23 |
2025 | June 19 | Perihelion #24 |
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Looking at the title of this post (and the image itself - WOW!). I could only think of one thing (“...faster than a speeding bullet” - it’s the opening to the old “Superman” tv show.