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Parker Solar Probe

Also Known As Solar Probe Plus
Space Probe

A NASA space probe built by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, launched in August 2018 to study the Sun's outer corona and solar wind at closer range than any prior spacecraft. It is the first NASA spacecraft named for a living person, physicist Eugene Parker, and at its 2024 closest approach it reached about 690,000 km/h, the fastest human-made object ever built.

Facts
Spacecraft Type
Space Probe 2
Launch Date
2018-08-12 2
Manufacturer
Applied Physics Laboratory 2
Status
Operational; making repeated close approaches to the Sun as of the mid-2020s. 2
Status
Status (category)
Active 1
Connections

Associated With

Gravity Assist, Concepts

Parker Solar Probe uses repeated Venus gravity assists to lower its perihelion

Operated By

Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Sources
1. Parker Solar Probe (Wikipedia)
  • PSP made its closest approach to the Sun...Detailed telemetry was received January 1, 2025
  • In Group: Solar and Heliophysics Probes, The Parker Solar Probe (PSP; previously Solar Probe, Solar Probe Plus or Solar Probe+) is a NASA space probe launched in 2018 to make observations of the Sun's outer corona.
View the Source
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Parker Solar Probe, opening section
    previously Solar Probe, Solar Probe Plus or Solar Probe+
  • Parker Solar Probe, Start of mission section
    Launch date: 12 August 2018, 07:31 UTC
  • Parker Solar Probe, Spacecraft properties section
    Manufacturer: Applied Physics Laboratory
  • Parker Solar Probe, Findings section
    detailed telemetry was received January 1, 2025
View the Source
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