On Sunday, NASA launched the Parker Probe, which will come within four million miles of the sun — closer than any probe before it.
NASA’s Twitter account posted a video of the launch:
3-2-1… and we have liftoff of Parker #SolarProbe atop @ULAlaunch’s #DeltaIV Heavy rocket. Tune in as we broadcast our mission to “touch” the Sun: https://t.co/T3F4bqeATB pic.twitter.com/Ah4023Vfvn
— NASA (@NASA) August 12, 2018
The launch took place at Cape Canaveral. If all goes according to plan, the Parker probe will be the fastest moving object ever made by humankind, traveling at speeds of over 430,000 miles per hour.
According to the BBC:
Over the course of seven years, Parker will make 24 loops around our star to study the physics of the corona, the place where much of the important activity that affects the Earth seems to originate.
NASA continued to post updates:
We have confirmation that the #ParkerSolarProbe solar panels have been deployed. pic.twitter.com/c0n2FfaVKH
— NASA_LSP (@NASA_LSP) August 12, 2018
And they shared a little lesson on the history of the probe:
Last year, we changed #SolarProbe's name to honor Dr. Gene Parker. His 1958 paper was the first to theorize the solar wind, which is the Sun's outflow of material that influences Earth. This is the first NASA mission to be named for a living person! https://t.co/AhY9KVSSZS https://t.co/QKXo0RVjWx
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) August 11, 2018
The Solar Probe mission was originally part of a NASA project called the “Ice and Fire” missions, along with the Pluto-Kuiper-Express (later abandoned and replaced by New Horizons) and the Europa Orbiter (still hoped-for by Europa fans)
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) August 11, 2018
The mission was substantially redesigned at one point to become 'Solar Probe Plus', and finally renamed after Gene Parker, the discoverer of the solar wind.
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) August 11, 2018
Some couldn’t resist some good-natured fun:
it sure will be embarrassing if it turns out that the sun is flat.
— Brian Brettschneider (@Climatologist49) August 12, 2018
Or if the back side has a sign that says Notice: This Star scheduled for relocation due to construction of new Hyperspace Freeway.
— Dan Satterfield (@wildweatherdan) August 12, 2018
The sun doesn't exist. It was made up by the Chinese.
— Dan (@daanvantende2) August 12, 2018
Others expressed enthusiasm and good wishes:
I am continually fascinated by space so thank you NASA for pushing the boundaries of space exploration. Best of luck with this solar probe. Will be waiting in anticipation for fantastic updates! Onwards and upwards!
— CharliesAngel (@tiedtheknot) August 12, 2018
Great job ! For all the ones that stayed up late! It was a great show! Absolutely wonderful commentary as well @NASA ! I’m glad the old man got to see the rocket light up the sky! Now the experiments are off on their way! In the heavens headed toward our 1 & only son! ☀️
— UF Stem Cell Study (@UFStemCell) August 12, 2018
congrats NASA for the successful launch, Undoubtedly launch was thrilling, hope we will get more exciting days and exciting news from this probe. I also hope this satellite will survive in the extreme heat from sun. Good luck NASA, Good luck humanity !
— Voice of Internet (@opiniontweets_) August 12, 2018
Thank you to all of you for the work that you do. And thank you for letting us watch moments like this. That was incredible!
— Becky (@KnittingMouse) August 12, 2018
We even got some cool spectator photos:
Was there! pic.twitter.com/NXBrs3ScCa
— Simon Mitchell (@simitchlondon) August 12, 2018
Happy 6th birthday to this little one. Up early to watch the #SunProbe and ignoring all gifts until take off. That's my girl. pic.twitter.com/hUwxiKAhe3
— Andrew Graham (@Vicsalamander) August 12, 2018
fantastic launch as seen from lakeSanta Fe,Waldo, Fl. 10-11 minutes after launch I could hear the rumble/snapping engine noise in the stillness over the lake. I had not heard that long distance since the Saturn 5 launches from Orlando (many times close up though).277sec exposure pic.twitter.com/JnTwXjUtKe
— edward staples (@heartdoc2) August 12, 2018
We can’t wait to hear what NASA finds out!
