NASA Topics Missions Galleries NASA TV Follow NASA Downloads About NASA Audiences Search Latest Related Parker Solar Probe NASA Mourns Passing of Visionary Heliophysicist Eugene Parker 19 hours ago New Sun Missions to Help NASA Better Understand Earth-Sun Environment month ago NASA's Parker Solar Probe Discovers Matural Radio Emission in Venus Atmosphere 10 months ago Solar Cycle 25 Is Here. NASA, NOAA Scientists Explain What That Means Mar 16,2022 2 vears ago RELEASE 22-025 NASA Selects Proposals for New Space Environment Missions NASA Mourns Passing of Visionary Heliophysicist f in P vears ag0 Eugene Parker NASA's Parker Solar Probe Teams Up With Observatories Around Solar System for 4th Dr: Eugene N_ Parker; visionary of heliophysics and namesake of NASA's Parker Solar Probe, has passed away. He was 94. Solar Encounter As a young professor at the University of Chicago in the mid-1950s Parker developed a mathematical vears ag0 theory that predicted the solar wind, the constant outflow of solar material from the Sun: Throughout Solar Orbiter Launch Takes Solar Science to his career; Parker revolutionized the field time and advancing ideas that addressed the New Heights fundamental questions about the workings of our Sun and stars throughout the universe. vears ag0 We were saddened to learn the news that one of the great scientific minds and leaders of our time has passed, said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson_ Dr: Eugene Parker's contributions to science and to understanding how our universe works touches S0 much of what we do here at NASA Dr. Parker'5 legacy will live on through the many active and future NASA missions that build upon his work: " "The field of heliophysics exists in part because of Dr: Eugene Parker;' said Thomas Zurbuchen; NASAs associate administrator for science. "Honoring his work by giving Parker Solar Probe his name is one of the proudest accomplishments of my career: My work; my passion for science and my drive to keep exploring strongly influenced by this great man_ Parker Solar Probe 'touching the Sun;' is fitting accomplishment for his namesake mission:' In 2018, Parker became the first person to witness the launch of spacecraft bearing his name NASAs Parker Solar Probe continues its mission today in pursuit of the pioneering questions Parker first envisaged more than half century ago_ "Anyone who knew Dr: Parker; knew that he was visionary;' said Nicola Fox; director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. was honored to stand with him at the launch of Parker Solar Probe and have loved getting to share with him all the exciting science results, seeing his face light Up with every new image and data plot showed him will sincerel miss his 7)lz again , large