The Parker solar probe (https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/parker-solar-probe) launches today. It will go into a highly elliptical orbit around the sun. As it passes the sun at its closest approach, flying through the Sun's atmosphere, it will be the fastest object created by humanity. Well done NASA.
Postponed 24 hours due to a technical glitch.
Waiting, waiting...
It's up and on its way!!!
Quote from: Tank on August 12, 2018, 08:38:22 AM
It's up and on its way!!!
Up, up and away in my beautiful, er, solar probe?
But we have to wait for seven years for Parker to zip past the big hot body.
Quote from: Icarus on August 13, 2018, 03:30:30 AM
But we have to wait for seven years for Parker to zip past the big hot body.
It's first perihelion is on 1st Nov this year.
It's first close approach is in Dec 2024 and that will be perihelion 22 of a planed 24.
Details here (http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/The-Mission/index.php#Timeline)