API VERSION: 1.2
API SOURCE: NASA/JPL Horizons API

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 Revised: Feb 14, 2026         Parker Solar Probe / Sun                    -96
                         http://parkersolarprobe.jhuapl.edu/ 

 BACKGROUND:
  The Parker Solar Probe Mission will use seven Venus gravity assist flybys 
  over nearly seven years to gradually bring the spacecraft's trajectory closer
  to the Sun, which it will orbit at least 24 times with a final solar orbit
  period of 88 days.

  The spacecraft will fly through the Sun's outer corona, 5.9 million km from 
  the surface (8.5 solar radii).

  The orbit will be highly elliptical to minimize the time spent closest
  to the Sun, where incident solar radiation will be approximately 520 times 
  the intensity at Earth and temperatures near 2500 deg. F (1377 C).
 
 LAUNCH
  Date:           2018-Aug-12 07:31 UTC from NASA Kennedy Space Center
                  Complex 37
  Launch vehicle: Delta IV Heavy with Upper Stage

 EVENTS
  2018
    2018-Oct-03: Venus Flyby #1 @ 8:44 UTC
    2018-Nov-06: Perihelion #1 @ 03:27 UTC
  2019
    2019-Jan-19: Aphelion #1
    2019-Jan-20: Second orbit begins
    2019-Apr-04: Perihelion #2
    2019-Sep-01: Perihelion #3
    2019-Dec-26: Venus flyby #2
  2020
    2020-Jan-29: Perihelion #4
    2020-Jun-07: Perihelion #5
    2020-Jul-11: Venus flyby #3
    2020-Sep-27: Perihelion #6 
  2021
    2021-Jan-17: Perihelion #7
    2021-Feb-20: Venus flyby #4
    2021-Apr-29: Perihelion #8
    2021-Aug-09: Perihelion #9 
    2021-Oct-16: Venus flyby #5
    2021-Nov-21: Perihelion #10
  2022
    2022-Feb-25: Perihelion #11
    2022-Jun-01: Perihelion #12
    2022-Sep-06: Perihelion #13
    2022-Dec-11: Perihelion #14
  2023
    2023-Mar-17: Perihelion #15
    2023-Jun-22: Perihelion #16
    2023-Aug-21: Venus flyby #6
    2023-Sep-27: Perihelion #17
    2023-Dec-29: Perihelion #18
  2024
    2024-Mar-30: Perihelion #19
    2024-Jun-30: Perihelion #20
    2024-Sep-30: Perihelion #21
    2024-Nov-06: Venus flyby #7 (last one)
    2024-Dec-24: Perihelion #22 (first close approach)
  2025
    2025-Mar-22: Perihelion #23
    2025-Jun-19: Perihelion #24

 GOALS
  * Determine the structure and dynamics of the magnetic fields at the 
     sources of solar wind.
  * Trace the flow of energy that heats the corona and accelerates the solar 
     wind.
  * Determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles.
  * Explore dusty plasma near the Sun and its influence on solar wind and 
     solar energetic particles formation.

 SPACECRAFT TRAJECTORY 
  Fit to post-launch tracking data through 2026-Jan-27. Reference planning 
  trajectory for subsequent times.

  Name                                      Start (TDB)         End (TDB) 
  ---------------------------------------  -----------------  -----------------
  spp_nom_20180812_20251001_v041_RO8       2018-Aug-12 08:17  2025-Jun-25 06:00
  spp_pred_20250625_20251030_od242_V0.2    2025-Jun-25 06:00  2025-Oct-08 12:00
  spp_pred_20251008_20251231_od247_V0.1    2025-Oct-08 12:00  2025-Nov-24 18:00
  spp_pred_20251124_20260526_od254_V0.1    2025-Nov-24 18:00  2026-Jan-15 00:00
  spp_pred_20260115_20260409_od257_V0.1    2026-Jan-15 00:00  2026-Jan-28 16:44
  spp_pred_20260128_20260617_od258_V0.1    2026-Jan-28 16:44  2026-Jun-17 00:00
  spp_nom_20180812_20300101_v044_PostV7    2026-Jun-17 00:00  2030-Jan-01 00:00
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