STATION 03 · ASTROMETRICS DOSSIER ACTIVE SCIENCE

Parker Solar Probe

NASA / Johns Hopkins APL • Target: Inner Solar Corona (Perihelion) • In flight: 8y 0m (Launched Aug 12, 2018)

REAL-TIME ASTROMETRICS CONSOLE

FRAME: HELIOCENTRIC / J2000

Heliocentric Distance 0.35000 AU 52,359,255 km

Round-Trip Light Time (RTLT) 05m 49s One-Way Delay: 02m 55s

Spacecraft Velocity 176.00 km/s 633,600 km/h heliocentric

Trajectory Profile Elliptical heliocentric orbit (Period ~88 days, perihelion ~6.1M km) Phase: Perihelion Science Operations

01 Mission Architecture & Scientific Objectives

Parker Solar Probe is the fastest human-made object in history, repeatedly diving directly through the Sun's superheated corona at speeds exceeding 635,000 km/h (395,000 mph). Shielded by an 11.4 cm carbon-composite heat shield that endures temperatures of 1,400°C, Parker has solved the mystery of solar magnetic switchbacks and discovered the dust-free zone near the Sun.

02 Scientific Instrument Payload

Sensor	Subsystem	Scientific Measurement Function	State
FIELDS	Electromagnetic Fields Suite	Measures electric and magnetic fields, radio waves, and plasma shockwaves.	Active
SWEAP	Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons	Counts electrons, protons, and helium ions in the coronal stream.	Active
WISPR	Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe	Optical imager capturing coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from inside the corona.	Active
IS☉IS	Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun	Measures energetic particles accelerated by solar flare magnetic reconnection.	Active

03 Historical Astrometric Chronology

2018

Launch on Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral.

2021

Officially "touched the Sun" by crossing the Alfvén critical surface.

2024

Final Venus gravity assist setting record perihelion at 6.1 million km.

2026+

Final orbital baseline dives inside the coronal acceleration zone.