Parker Solar Probe Is Churning Out Copious Data 

Aug. 1, 2019 (EIRNS)—According to the latest updates from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (JHUAPL), the Parker Solar Probe mission scientists are hard at work analyzing the copious amount of data delivered by the spunky probe.   

“On May 6, 2019, just over a month after Parker Solar Probe completed its second solar encounter, the final transmission of 22 gigabytes of planned science data—collected during the first two encounters—was down-linked by the mission team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland.   

“This 22 GB is 50% more data than the team had estimated would be down-linked by this point in the mission—all because the spacecraft’s telecommunications system is performing better than pre-launch estimates. After characterizing the spacecraft’s operations during the commissioning phase, which began soon after its Aug. 12, 2018 launch, the Parker mission team determined that the telecom system could effectively deliver more down-link opportunities, helping the team maximize the download of science data,”

reported NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission page.   

The Parker Solar Probe is speeding towards its third solar encounter, beginning on Aug. 27, 2019, and its third perihelion will occur on Sept. 1. Scientists, researchers, students and citizen-scientists are eagerly looking forward to what the Probe’s record-breaking exploration of the Sun might reveal.  

As we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the manned Moon landing, it is with profound emotion that we contemplate the reach of mankind’s grasp in this moment; on one hand, we have the Parker Solar Probe, going closest to the Sun of any mission yet, and on the other hand, the continued adventures of the New Horizons vehicle, now approximately 5 billion miles from Earth. With these missions, mankind is now, for the first time in history, spanning the Solar System all at once, and beyond.