Missions to the Sun: NASA's Solar Probe Plus and ESA's Solar Orbiter - Page 3 - Orbiter-Forum

SolarLiner · 08-07-2013, 07:41 PM

Seems like we not only need TransX, but Trajectory Optimisation Tool to achieve a so-complex trajectory. Seems intresting though

Unstung · 08-08-2013, 01:35 AM

Compared to the British mission, Solar Probe Plus will use tiny panels to generate electricity when it approaches the corona and hide its larger array behind the heat shield.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaverickSawyer

looks like Solar Probe Plus now has a companion/competitor...

Although Solar Orbiter will fly a mere 42 million kilometers away from a sun, Solar Probe Plus is supposed to fly within six million kilometers of the sun. If anything, Solar Orbiter will not be a record holder for long. As for their orbits, Solar Probe Plus seems planned to orbit within the plane of the solar system while Solar Orbiter will have a high inclination. The mission objectives appear to overlap each other only partially, and together they will construct a better picture of the sun.

The article says that Solar Orbiter will be taken high above the plane of the solar system so it can observe the sun's poles. Ulysses did this by going all the way out to Jupiter and using a gravity assist, but never got very close to the sun. While Solar Probe Plus was planned to fly by Jupiter to decrease its perihelion but will now use multiple flybys of Venus, there is no mention of how Solar Orbiter will get into its orbit on Wikipedia or elsewhere after a quick search.

EDIT: Solar Orbiter's trajectory was posted right above my post. The video also includes information about the spacecraft's heat shield and how the solar arrays and other parts of it will handle the temperature.

**Notebook** · 03-29-2015, 07:25 AM

Not due for launches till 2018/2017, but always good to start early...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32069216

Quote:

They must be the two most audacious space missions currently in development.
Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus will venture inside the orbit of Mercury to study the Sun.
The temperatures on the front surfaces of these satellites will go into the high hundreds of degrees Celsius, and beyond.
You could say they are the missions to Hel

N.

Unstung · 03-31-2015, 03:13 AM

I merged all three similar threads and renamed the title to reflect Notebook's decision to cover both missions in one thread. The redirects expire in a week.

boogabooga · 06-01-2017, 05:03 AM

On Wednesday, Solar Probe Plus was officially renamed Parker Solar Probe. This is the first NASA probe named after a living person.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Parker

Parker Solar Probe is due to launch next summer.

RGClark · 06-01-2017, 01:48 PM

Nasa’s hotly anticipated solar mission renamed to honour astrophysicist Eugene Parker.
Renamed the Parker Solar Probe to honour solar astrophysicist who predicted high speed solar wind, the spacecraft will attempt to get close to sun’s surface.
Wednesday 31 May 2017 07.08 EDT
https://www.theguardian.com/science/...lar-probe-plus

Bob Clark

Unstung · 07-06-2018, 05:34 AM

"Cutting-Edge Heat Shield Installed on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe"

The launch is scheduled for no earlier than August 4.

**Nicholas Kang** · 07-22-2018, 10:16 AM

The pre-launch briefing was held yesterday!

Parker Solar Probe - Pre-launch Briefing - YouTube

Unstung · 08-01-2018, 03:06 AM

"Prepping to Launch for the Sun"

Aw, what a cute little probe.

MaverickSawyer · 08-01-2018, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unstung

"Prepping to Launch for the Sun"

Aw, what a cute little probe.

I'm surprised they didn't cut down the length of the fairing some. It'd save, what, a few hundred pounds, probably, but that'd be a little extra kick.

**Urwumpe** · 08-01-2018, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaverickSawyer

I'm surprised they didn't cut down the length of the fairing some. It'd save, what, a few hundred pounds, probably, but that'd be a little extra kick.

Maybe there is simply no shorter fairing available right now and developing a special shorter one would be expensive. After all, such a fairing is a complex design, despite its superficially easy job.

After all, it looks like its just two "rings" less possible, before the end of the payload envelope arrives at the top of the probe. Just look at the product card for reference there.

https://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/defau...oduct_card.pdf

**Nicholas Kang** · 08-10-2018, 11:45 AM

Less than 20 hours!

Briefing ahead of NASA's Parker Solar Probe Launch on Delta IV Heavy - YouTube

Quote:

At 3:33 a.m. EDT on Aug. 11, while most of the U.S. is asleep, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will be abuzz with excitement. At that moment, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, the agency’s historic mission to touch the Sun, will have its first opportunity to lift off.

Stay awake, Americans!

NASA \| Parker Solar Probe: It's Surprisingly Hard to Go to the Sun - YouTube

Parker Solar Probe: Building the Thermal Protection System - YouTube

Live stream will be available on NASA TV (Starts at 3 a.m. EDT).

NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV - YouTube

**Notebook** · 08-11-2018, 08:10 AM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45058911

BBC article.

BBC is covering the launch as live, unusual for them.

N.

Unstung · 08-11-2018, 08:30 AM

Scrubbed, 24-hour turnaround

**C3PO** · 08-11-2018, 08:53 AM

T-4 and holding, pending new launch time.

08-08-2013, 01:35 AM	#32
Unstung Cassini 2017	Compared to the British mission, Solar Probe Plus will use tiny panels to generate electricity when it approaches the corona and hide its larger array behind the heat shield. Quote: Originally Posted by MaverickSawyer looks like Solar Probe Plus now has a companion/competitor... Although Solar Orbiter will fly a mere 42 million kilometers away from a sun, Solar Probe Plus is supposed to fly within six million kilometers of the sun. If anything, Solar Orbiter will not be a record holder for long. As for their orbits, Solar Probe Plus seems planned to orbit within the plane of the solar system while Solar Orbiter will have a high inclination. The mission objectives appear to overlap each other only partially, and together they will construct a better picture of the sun. The article says that Solar Orbiter will be taken high above the plane of the solar system so it can observe the sun's poles. Ulysses did this by going all the way out to Jupiter and using a gravity assist, but never got very close to the sun. While Solar Probe Plus was planned to fly by Jupiter to decrease its perihelion but will now use multiple flybys of Venus, there is no mention of how Solar Orbiter will get into its orbit on Wikipedia or elsewhere after a quick search. EDIT: Solar Orbiter's trajectory was posted right above my post. The video also includes information about the spacecraft's heat shield and how the solar arrays and other parts of it will handle the temperature. Last edited by Unstung; 08-08-2013 at 01:57 AM.

03-29-2015, 07:25 AM	#33
Notebook Donator	ESA Solar Orbiter, NASA Solar Probe Plus. Not due for launches till 2018/2017, but always good to start early... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-32069216 Quote: They must be the two most audacious space missions currently in development. Solar Orbiter and Solar Probe Plus will venture inside the orbit of Mercury to study the Sun. The temperatures on the front surfaces of these satellites will go into the high hundreds of degrees Celsius, and beyond. You could say they are the missions to Hel N.

03-31-2015, 03:13 AM	#34
Unstung Cassini 2017	I merged all three similar threads and renamed the title to reflect Notebook's decision to cover both missions in one thread. The redirects expire in a week. Last edited by Unstung; 03-31-2015 at 03:19 AM.

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08-07-2013, 07:41 PM	#31
SolarLiner It's necessary, TARS.	Seems like we not only need TransX, but Trajectory Optimisation Tool to achieve a so-complex trajectory. Seems intresting though

06-01-2017, 05:03 AM	#35
boogabooga Bug Crusher	On Wednesday, Solar Probe Plus was officially renamed Parker Solar Probe. This is the first NASA probe named after a living person. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Parker Parker Solar Probe is due to launch next summer.

06-01-2017, 01:48 PM	#36
RGClark Mathematician	Nasa’s hotly anticipated solar mission renamed to honour astrophysicist Eugene Parker. Renamed the Parker Solar Probe to honour solar astrophysicist who predicted high speed solar wind, the spacecraft will attempt to get close to sun’s surface. Wednesday 31 May 2017 07.08 EDT https://www.theguardian.com/science/...lar-probe-plus Bob Clark

07-06-2018, 05:34 AM	#37
Unstung Cassini 2017	"Cutting-Edge Heat Shield Installed on NASA’s Parker Solar Probe" The launch is scheduled for no earlier than August 4.

08-01-2018, 03:06 AM	#39
Unstung Cassini 2017	"Prepping to Launch for the Sun" Aw, what a cute little probe.

08-01-2018, 04:38 AM	#40
MaverickSawyer Acolyte of the Probe	Quote: Originally Posted by Unstung "Prepping to Launch for the Sun" Aw, what a cute little probe. I'm surprised they didn't cut down the length of the fairing some. It'd save, what, a few hundred pounds, probably, but that'd be a little extra kick.

08-01-2018, 06:20 AM	#41
Urwumpe Certain Super User	Quote: Originally Posted by MaverickSawyer I'm surprised they didn't cut down the length of the fairing some. It'd save, what, a few hundred pounds, probably, but that'd be a little extra kick. Maybe there is simply no shorter fairing available right now and developing a special shorter one would be expensive. After all, such a fairing is a complex design, despite its superficially easy job. After all, it looks like its just two "rings" less possible, before the end of the payload envelope arrives at the top of the probe. Just look at the product card for reference there. https://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/defau...oduct_card.pdf

08-11-2018, 08:10 AM	#43
Notebook Donator	https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-45058911 BBC article. BBC is covering the launch as live, unusual for them. N.

08-11-2018, 08:30 AM	#44
Unstung Cassini 2017	Scrubbed, 24-hour turnaround

08-11-2018, 08:53 AM	#45
C3PO Donator	T-4 and holding, pending new launch time.