Parker Solar Probe
To be included in the website
PSP Design
Why do we need it?
Our closest star, the sun is actually a very huge ball of hot gas continuously undergoing fusion reaction to generate heat and light which is key to support life here on earth.
However, there has been recent discoveries of some phenomena occurring on sun which can potentially harm all living beings here on earth.
Solar wind is one such example, with potential to disrupt the geomagnetic field of earth, it becomes very hazardous to humanity considering how the humanity of 21st century is overly dependent on electricity and satellites.
ENGINEERING
Anti-Ram Facing View
Ram Facing View
FAQ
Q/ Why the probe is named Parker Solar Probe?
A/ Parker Solar Probe is named for Dr Eugene Newman Parker, the first person to predict the existence of the solar wind. In 1958, Parker developed a theory showing how the Sun’s hot corona — by then known to be millions of degrees Fahrenheit — is so hot that it overcomes the Sun’s gravity. According to the theory, the material in the corona expands continuously outwards in all directions, forming a solar wind.
FAQ
Q/ Why doesn’t it melt away being so close to sun?
A/ The spacecraft and its instruments is protected from the Sun's heat by a 4.5-inch-thick (11.43 cm) carbon-composite shield, which will need to withstand temperatures outside the spacecraft that reach nearly 1,377 degrees Celsius.
FAQ
Q/ How does it investigate the corona?
A/ Parker Solar Probe uses 4 major instruments for investigating the solar corona, those instruments are;
FAQ
Q/ What is the cost of this probe?
A/ The probe is very costly with a cost of a whooping 1.5 billion USD.
INSTRUMENTS
Fields Experiment (FIELDS):
This investigation will make direct measurements of electric and magnetic fields and waves, Poynting flux, absolute plasma density and electron temperature, spacecraft floating potential and density fluctuations, and radio emissions.
Integrated Science Investigation of Sun (ISꙨIS)
This investigation makes observations of energetic electrons, protons and heavy ions that are accelerated to high energies (10s of keV to 100 MeV) in the Sun's atmosphere and inner heliosphere, and correlates them with solar wind and coronal structures.
Wide field Imager for Solar PRobe (WISPR)
These telescopes will take images of the solar corona and inner heliosphere. The experiment will also provide images of the solar wind, shocks and other structures as they approach and pass the spacecraft. This investigation complements the other instruments on the spacecraft providing direct measurements by imaging the plasma the other instruments sample.
Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) Investigation
This investigation will count the most abundant particles in the solar wind -- electrons, protons and helium ions -- and measure their properties such as velocity, density, and temperature.
SPAN-B
SPAN-A+
SPC
How does it get to Sun?
Launch
Orbit and Trajectory
The mission objectives needs the probe to make 24 orbits around the Sun and 7 Venus flyby for gravity assist. This would accelerate the probe to reach a maximum speed of approx. 690,000km/h (0.064% of speed of light)
Closest approach: 6.9 million km
Current Position
As of 9th September 2021, the probe is at a distance of approx. 117 000 000 km from the Sun, moving at around 50 000 kmph.
As of 3rd October 2021, the probe is reaching its apoapsis and preparing for the 5th Venus flyby assist to occur on 16th October.
PSP is shown in white
Accomplishment of the mission*�*to be updated on 3rd Oct according to most recent data
Switchback of solar wind
The enigma of magnetic switchbacks in the “young” solar wind. The switchbacks are more prominent, and play a larger role in the structure of the solar wind, closer to the Sun. Their origin, evolution and contribution to the heating and acceleration of the solar wind plasma is highly debated. Several papers in this issue discuss different aspects of this mysterious feature.
Dust free zones
Clear evidence of the dust-free zone around the Sun, supporting the initial hints of such a zone published in the 2019 Nature papers.