I'm surprised they mentioned ULA at all. Can't wait to see what "NASA" launches next...

Anyone have any theories on why the atmosphere is so much hotter than the solar surface? My guess is that magnetism is somehow heating the gas. I hope the satellite can solve the mystery. At least we probably won't have to wait a long time to find out.
And New Horizon will fly near MU69 in the Kuiper Belt on 1 January 2019. NASA has both ends of the solar system covered, so to speak. Imagine when Bezos gets going with New Glenn, significantly lowering the launch cost as Musk is forced to compete.

OT - yeah imagine living on earth after getting rid of all monopolies/cartels/trusts.. would be a freaking paradise down here.
Those are the only inefficiencies that a capitalist economic system has. If the USA could get rid of those constructs you guys would truly lead the world.

Hard to imagine SpaceX's name would've been left out of the headline if they'd been the launch provider.

As an admitted SpaceX fanboi I admit you may be right lol.

"the spacecraft will be traveling at up to 695,000 kilometers per hour."

Speed is relative. The Earth revolves around the sun at 107,200 km/h (66,600 mph). For the Parker Solar Probe to get to a lower orbit it must slow down to drop closer to the sun. After the speed reduction imparted by the Star-48BV the spacecraft will make numerous approaches on Venus to reduce it forward momentum. It will eventually be placed in a highly eccentric (heliocentric) orbit. Like every object in a none circular orbit, due to gravity the spacecraft will accelerate as it nears perihelion, then slow down again afterwards until it reaches its aphelion. While diving toward the sun it achieve a velocity of up to 193 km/s, which will temporarily make it the fastest man made object ever.

Congratulations to NASA and ULA on the successful launch of the Parker Solar probe

Is this the last NASA mission on Delta IV?

No. It has launches scheduled through 2023

Correct.

https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Not too many Delta IV's and even fewer Heavies. Kinda surprised they remember how to do it.

Yea, I know what you mean. 100% success rate, over 129 successful launches in a row and the standard for successful launches; it's amazing they can walk and chew gum.

My comment was humor re: the infrequency of Delta-family launches. I have no doubts that ULA is competent and professional. Have a nice day.

Hilarious...

Have a great day!

Save your thoughts for when they launch the last Delta 2 later this year.

Rare beasts indeed.

Congrats to the PSP team and ULA for continuing their streak of success, Unlike projects like the JWST, science collected from this mission may lead to insights that will serve all the US taxpayers who paid for this mission as well as humanity in general. Better understanding of the engine that powers most of the life on Earth is a great investment.

Congratulations all around to NASA and ULA for getting this long awaited for mission off the ground safely and on its way to the sun. Hopefully we'll get many years of science out of this baby.

Had me a tad worried when the STAR-48's telemetry started acting up.

Yah, the launch control room looked like a sea of "before* shots from a Metamucil commercial there for a few minutes.