Solar Parker Probe

Artist's impression of the Parker Solar Probe entering the Sun's atmosphere

Space

NASA probe "touches the Sun" with historic entry into solar atmosphere

After setting off back in 2018 on a history-making mission to study the Sun by getting up close and personal with its atmosphere, NASA's Solar Parker Probe has finally entered this region area for the first time.

The Solar Parker Probe blasts off from Cape Canaveral

Space

World-first solar probe en route to "touch the Sun"

The origin’s of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission can be traced back to a paper published 60 years ago by astrophysicist Eugene Parker, describing high speed matter emanating from the center of our solar system. Today the spacecraft carrying his name lifted off and is now en route to the Sun.

NASA engineers attach the heat shield to the Solar Parker Probe

Space

NASA fixes heat shield to Sun-skimming solar probe ahead of August launch

Next month, NASA is set to launch a pioneering new mission. The Solar Parker Probe will will become the spacecraft to most closely orbit our Sun, all things going to plan. And a pretty important part of that plan is the advanced heat shield now installed by NASA engineers.