NASA launches Parker solar probe on mission to 'touch the sun'

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NASA has sent a probe to fly closer to the sun's surface than any man-made object has ever gone.

Unlike other space missions, the Parker solar probe will have a long and complex orbit, since it's much more difficult to get to the sun, according to NASA.

The earth travels 67,000 miles per hour in a sideways motion relative to the sun to avoid being pulled in by its strong gravitational forces. As such, any object travelling to the sun must cancel that motion.

NASA's Parker solar probe must drop 53,000 miles per hour of sideways speed. In addition to being launched by the powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket, it will perform seven Venus flybys over a seven-year period, relying on the planet's gravity to draw its orbit closer to the sun.

The probe is then set to fly through the heated solar atmosphere called the corona, to understand and be able to predict the behavior of solar winds.

If all goes according to plan, the Parker solar probe will make its first close pass at the sun in November.

RUNDOWN SHOWS:
1. Depiction of Earth's sideways motion relative to the sun
2. Depiction of solar probe launch atop Delta Heavy IV rocket
3. Depiction of probe's trajectory and Venus flybys
4. Depiction of probe studying solar winds

VOICEOVER (in English):

"The earth travels 67,000 miles per hour in a sideways motion relative to the sun to avoid being pulled into it. So any object travelling to the sun must cancel that motion."

"NASA's Parker solar probe must drop 53,000 miles per hour of sideways speed. In addition to being launched by the powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket, it will perform seven Venus flybys over a seven-year period, relying on the planet's gravity to draw its orbit closer to the sun."

"The probe is then set to fly through the heated solar atmosphere called the corona, to understand and be able to predict the behavior of solar winds."

SOURCES:
NASA, United Launch Alliance, CBS

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