Scientists Over the Moon for NASA's Solar Probe Launch to the Sun

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Speechless is not a word typically used to describe Nicky Fox, mission scientist for the Parker Solar Probe at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. But that was her reaction in the wee hours today (Aug. 12) as she watched NASA's Parker Solar Probe launch on an unprecedented mission to the sun.

"It was very emotional," Fox told Space.com. "I was speechless and I'm not normally speechless."

The predawn skies lit up like daylight as a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy lifted off at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station here, carrying the Parker Solar Probe on humanity's first mission to touch the sun. As gorgeous as the launch spectacle was, the real celebration happened just over an hour later.

Cheers erupted in the press site and a collective sigh of relief was breathed as word came through that the spacecraft had separated from the rocket's third stage — which was built by Northrop Grumman — and beamed backed its first communications.

The Parker Solar Probe had successfully reached space and phoned home.

"The spacecraft is power positive and that's where we want to be," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's science mission directorate. "Whenever you're there, you take a breather and then you start working."

A mission to touch the sun

The mission, which has been sought after for 60 years, was first scheduled to launch on July 31, but was pushed back several times due to a variety of technical issues. Less than 2 minutes before its planned liftoff on Saturday (Aug. 11), a helium pressure alarm went off on the Delta IV Heavy, thwarting the day's launch attempt.

But that wasn't the case on Sunday as flames erupted and the rocket roared to life at the opening of the 65...

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