Parker Solar Probe

Parker Solar Probe was launched on 12 August 2018 to study the Sun.
It will assess the structure and dynamics of the Sun's coronal plasma and magnetic field, the energy flow that heats the solar corona and impels the solar wind, and the mechanisms that accelerate energetic particles.
The mission design uses repeated gravity assists at Venus to incrementally decrease its orbital perihelion to achieve a final altitude (above the surface) of approximately 8.5 solar radii, or about 6×106 km (3.7×106 mi; 0.040 au).

The goals of the Parker solar probe include
· Trace the flow of energy that heats the corona and accelerates the solar wind.
· Determine the structure and dynamics of the magnetic fields at the sources of solar wind.
· Determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles.