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Parker Solar Probe – The Fastest Moving Object in History, Blasts Off

The Parker Solar Probe rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida to become the fastest-moving manmade object in history. Its data promises to reveal deep secrets about the Sun’s behaviour and is the first shuttle to be named after a living person – astrophysicist Eugene Parker, 91, who first drew attention to solar wind in 1958.

Parker Solar Probe – How, What and When

Parker Solar Probe was the first-ever spacecraft towards the sun and this car-sized spacecraft has cost NASA a hefty price of USD 1.5 billion. Initially, the launch was planned for Saturday but the same has been now postponed to Sunday morning. The Parker Solar Probe will be launched on Delta IV Heavy Rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. It was scheduled for launch at 3.33 AM EDT during a 65-minute launch window.

This spacecraft will reach the vicinity of the sun like no other spacecraft so far and is aimed at unleashing the mysterious secrets of the Corona. Corona is the unusual atmosphere around the sun which the NASA has been trying to comprehend for long.

The Parker Solar Probe could just be a revolutionary spacecraft if it completes its set objectives. The Parker Solar Probe will carry out its operations in an area where the solar wind is expected to be accelerating at high rates and NASA has shown great excitement about the same. Huge magnetic fields are expected to pass the Parker Solar Probe during its journey.

The corona is known to be about 300 times hotter than the sun and it is also known for hurling powerful plasma and energetic particles. These particles are further capable of triggering geomagnetic space storms which can unleash a havoc on earth. Hence, the understanding of the corona becomes highly significant in terms of studying the challenges to the earth inflicted by the outer space. Knowing more about solar storms and solar wind will benefit the world significantly.

More News at EurAsian Times

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