Parker Solar Probe

Current Context : The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA in 2018, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first human-made object to fly close to the Sun.

• Objective:The mission aims to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona, to enhance our understanding of solar wind and space weather phenomena.
• Speed: The probe reached speeds of 700,000 km/h, making it the fastest human-made object.
• Instruments: Carries instruments like the Fields Experiment (FIELDS) and Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) for measuring solar activity and space weather.
• Thermal Protection: Equipped with a carbon foam heat shield to protect from extreme temperatures exceeding 1,800°F (982°C).