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Parker Solar Probe

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At InclusiveIAS, we understand the significance of Science and Technology in the UPSC Prelims and the challenges students face in mastering this subject. To address these issues, we have launched Science Corner, a dedicated space where aspirants can access comprehensive and meticulously curated notes tailored specifically for Prelims. Our aim is to simplify complex topics, align content with the evolving exam trends, and empower aspirants with a strong foundation to tackle Science and Technology questions confidently.By bridging the gap between complexity and clarity, this initiative reflects our philosophy of making UPSC preparation inclusive, effective, and student-centric.

Parker Solar Probe

  • The Parker Solar Probe was developed as part of NASA’s Living With a Star program to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society on Earth.
  • Launch:It was launched on August 12, 2018, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and is currently orbiting the Sun in a highly elliptical orbit that takes it closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft.
  • The mission objectives of the Parker Solar Probe are to study the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s corona, the Sun’s magnetic field, and the solar wind.
  • On a mission to “touch the Sun,” NASA’s Parker Solar Probe became the first spacecraft to fly through the corona – the Sun’s upper atmosphere – in 2021.
    • NASA scientists announced on December 28,2024  that the Parker Solar Probe survived the closest-ever approach to the Sun. The craft was operating normally after it passed just 6.1 million km from the solar surface.
  • The Parker Solar Probe is the closest any human-made object has ever come to the Sun.
  • Features:
    • It carries four instrument suites-Scientific Instruments: Fields Experiment (FIELDS), Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS), Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR), Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP).
    • Parker Solar Probe and its instruments are protected from the Sun by a 4.5-inch-thick (11.43 cm) carbon-composite shield, which can withstand temperatures reaching nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 Celsius).
    • The probe circulates a single gallon of water through its solar panels which helps it keep its cool — the water absorbs the heat, and then radiates it out into space.
Solar Wind

The solar wind is a constant flow of protons and electrons emitted from the Sun’s outermost layer, the corona. When this wind reaches Earth, it sends a surge of charged particles into the magnetosphere, traveling along Earth’s magnetic field lines toward the poles. The interaction of these particles with Earth’s atmosphere can create luminous aurora displays near the polar regions.