NASA’s Parker Solar Probe set for close Venus flyby

[Michie]

The spacecraft is almost 2 years into an epic mission to study the sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set for a close flyby of Venus that will see the spacecraft come within 516 miles of the planet’s surface.

The spacecraft, which is almost two years into an epic mission to study the sun, will make its flyby of Venus at 11.22 p.m. EDT on Friday, Space.com reported.

“The spacecraft will swoop by Venus for its first outbound flyby of the planet. This is when Parker Solar Probe will perform its third Venus gravity assist, which will allow the spacecraft to shed some of its orbital energy and get much closer to the Sun on the following orbit,” explains NASA, on its website.

“Flying at an altitude of approximately 516 miles above Venus’ surface — much lower than the previous two flybys but still well above Venus’ atmosphere — Parker Solar Probe will also witness a brief 11-minute solar eclipse during the maneuver."

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe set for close Venus flyby

 

[John Done]

During its mission Parker has set two records - first, the device has approached the star at the maximum distance at the moment and second, it accelerated to a speed that was enormous for man-made spacecraft.