March 21, 2023
NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft made its closest approach to the planet Venus on March 21 at 8:46 a.m. EDT. The spacecraft came within about 8,000 miles of the planet's surface, making this the fourth and closest flyby of Venus in the Parker Solar Probe mission.
During its flyby, Parker Solar Probe used its heat shield to protect itself from the extreme temperatures on the Venus's surface. The spacecraft also used its instruments to study Venus's atmosphere, magnetic field, and plasma environment. This data will help scientists better understand the planet's evolution and how it interacts with the Sun.
After its fourth flyby of Venus, Parker Solar Probe will continue on its journey to the Sun. The spacecraft will make two more flybys of the planet before reaching the Sun's atmosphere in December 2024.
The Parker Solar Probe mission is a seven-year mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft was launched in August 2018 and is scheduled to end in December 2025. Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun's atmosphere, and it is providing scientists with new insights into the Sun's behavior.
About Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is often referred to as Earth's twin because of their similar size and composition. However, Venus is a much hotter planet than Earth, with a surface temperature of about 900 degrees Fahrenheit. Venus also has a very thick atmosphere, which makes it difficult to study its surface.
The Parker Solar Probe Mission
The Parker Solar Probe mission is a seven-year mission to study the Sun. The spacecraft was launched in August 2018 and is scheduled to end in December 2025. Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to fly through the Sun's atmosphere, and it is providing scientists with new insights into the Sun's behavior.
The Parker Solar Probe mission is led by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. The mission is funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
