3D Printable Parker Solar Probe Models

Download and print your own Parker Solar Probe! These STL files are designed for 3D printing enthusiasts to recreate this groundbreaking spacecraft at home or in your makerspace. The models include key features of the spacecraft, including the solar array wings in different configurations.

Closest Approach Celebration Kit

The Parker Solar Probe team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland – where the spacecraft was built and is operated today – has designed a kit of materials and activities to bring your audience inside this amazing mission.

Toy Bricks Challenge

The Parker Solar Probe mission challenged the award-winning Mountaineer Area RoboticS (MARS) team to design and build a model of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft with toy bricks. More than a dozen middle school, high school and college students from the MARS team accepted the challenge and worked on a design under the guidance of physicists, roboticists, engineers and outreach specialists.

Make your Own Zine!

Craft a zine to make the journey into the sun’s secrets an exciting and hands-on experience. Ready to embark on this solar storytelling endeavor? Let the zine-making journey begin!

Ask ParkerBot!

ParkerBot is a virtual assistant for all information on NASA's Parker Solar Probe mission, as well as solar eclipses, space weather or other facts and findings on the science of the Sun.

Advanced Scale Model
(Paper/Card/Augmented Reality)

Build your own Parker Solar Probe! This 1/30-scale paper model is easy to download and assemble (with a few readily available tools). Printing on and working with cardstock or heavier paper gives you the “feel” of assembling the real thing – and that’s why architects still consider paper modeling to be a basic yet essential skill.

Scale Model
(Paper/Card/Augmented Reality)

Build your own Parker Solar Probe! This 1/30-scale paper model is easy to download and assemble (with a few readily available tools). Printing on and working with cardstock or heavier paper gives you the “feel” of assembling the real thing – and that’s why architects still consider paper modeling to be a basic yet essential skill.

Augmented Reality Experience

Explore and manipulate the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft on your computer screen or access an Augmented Reality (AR) version of the spacecraft on your cell phone.

Send Your Name to the Sun

Back in March 2018, the public were invited to send their names to the Sun aboard humanity’s first mission to “touch” a star. A total of 1,137,202 names were submitted and confirmed and a memory card containing the names was installed on the spacecraft.

Certificate Retrieval

Enter the email used when submitting your name.

NASA Space Apps Challenge

The NASA International Space Apps Challenge (or Space Apps) is an international hackathon that takes place over a 48-hour period in cities around the globe in October. The events embraces collaborative problem-solving with the goal of producing open-source solutions to challenges we currently face on Earth and in space. When mission data is available, the Parker Solar Probe outreach team will work with the NASA Space Apps team to design a challenge that encourages users to explore PSP data and its connection to the space science fleet of spacecraft.

Read about the 2022 Space Apps Challenge Winners - Earth, Wind & Flare

A Boston-based team was one of 10 Global Winners for Art and Technology - The solution that most effectively combines technical and creative skills.

Helioviewer

Helioviewer allows you to observe solar phenomena from over the last two decades up to near-real time and to create screenshots and movies. Quickly access authentic satellite data on solar features and events, including sunspots, flares, and active regions on the Sun’s surface; holes in the corona; eruptions, such as filaments and coronal mass ejections; and the Sun’s magnetic activity.

Student Helioviewer: Learn more about the Helioviewer at NOVA Sun Labs where they created two guided research activities to show you how to use the Helioviewer to gather and analyze data from the Sun. You can then apply these skills in an investigation of your own.

Make your Own Zine!

Craft a zine to make the journey into the sun’s secrets an exciting and hands-on experience. Ready to embark on this solar storytelling endeavor? Let the zine-making journey begin!

Explore UV Light

This fun and simple activity makes use of UV Beads to explore UV rays from the Sun and how we can protect ourselves from these potentially harmful rays.

Make a Paper Sun

With a few simple household materials including shaving cream, paper and food coloring, learn how to create and 'easy to do' artistic image of the Sun that can be used on greeting cards or as wrapping paper!

Make a Solar Handprint

In this activity, learn how to use construction paper and sunscreen to see for yourself how sunscreen can be used to block the sun's ultraviolet light rays.

Sun Cookies

Use candy pieces and a cookie to make an accurate model of the Sun that you can eat!

Cereal Box Spectroscope

With this activity, learn how build your own spectroscopes, learn about graphing the spectra, and how to identify elements in gas tubes using their spectra. The activity concludes with participants looking at spectra of celestial objects.

Mapping Magnetic Influence

This series of activities is designed to guide you through and exploration of magnets while developing an operational definition of a magnetic 'field'. With a few simple tools you'll quickly learn how map a magnetic field!

Space Place – Solar Activities

NASA’s award-winning Space Place website engages upper-elementary-aged children in space and Earth science through interactive games, hands-on activities, fun articles and short videos. With material in both English and Spanish and numerous resources for kids, parents and teachers, Space Place has something for everyone.

Scale Solar System Activities/Resources

Enjoy this collection of activities that will answer many of your questions about the sun, space weather and eclipses.

Host a Parker Solar Probe Eclipse Party

Solar eclipses capture the imagination of us all. We invite you to join Parker Solar Probe in experiencing this wondrous, unique event in our solar system by holding your own eclipse party! These parties are a fun way to share the excitement of an eclipse with schools, community groups and the general public. With a little bit of planning and promotion, you have the opportunity to involve your friends, family, students or any number of community groups.

Map It Out: Follow the Upcoming Solar Eclipses Across the US

Did you know that Parker Solar Probe will be zooming closer to the corona during the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses? Explore this new Solar Eclipse Map to find out where YOU will be!

Eclipses & Citizen Science

Observing a solar eclipse is one of many ways to get in on the fun of doing science. You can get involved with NASA science by participating in a number of NASA-funded citizen science projects. Citizen science projects are collaborations between scientists and interested members of the public. Through these collaborations, volunteers (known as citizen scientists) have helped make thousands of important scientific discoveries.

Solar Eclipse Eye Safety

The way to safely view the 2023 annular eclipse and the 2024 total solar eclipse in the United States will be different. Learn how to view the 2023 annular solar eclipse here and the 2024 total solar eclipse here.

Johns Hopkins APL Summer Center for Space Science

This two-week summer camp program allows youths from the local area near APL to engage in STEM activities and learn about STEM careers directly from the teams who plan and execute space missions for NASA and the nation. PSP mission scientists, engineers and outreach specialists with diverse backgrounds and interests provide content and engaging activities highlighting this exciting mission!

The Heliophysics Big Year

The Heliophysics Big Year is a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system. Join us October 2023 to December 2024 for an opportunity to participate in many solar science events such as watching solar eclipses, experiencing an aurora, participating in citizen science projects, and other fun Sun-related activities.

Citizen Science

NASA has collected a number of these citizen science programs. There are programs at every level from the most basic observations to publishable research opportunities in partnership with NASA and university scientists. Each project will offer a certificate of completion signed by NASA. So, join us and experience the excitement of learning, and making real discoveries!

Science Visualization Studio (SVS) Heliophysics Multimedia Resources

The Scientific Visualization Studio wants you to learn about NASA programs through visualization. All of the visualizations and multimedia products provided in this Heliophysics Gallery are accessible to you through this web site, and free to download!

Aurorasaurus

This is a project that gathers real-time data about aurora sightings and sends out notifications to users when the Northern Lights are likely visible in their area. Aurorasaurus will significantly improve forecasting of the aurora using citizen science reports and crowd-sourced (Twitter) ground truth observations of aurora.

Citizen CATE

The Citizen Continental-America Telescopic Eclipse (CATE) Experiment will use more than 60 identical telescopes equipped with digital cameras positioned from Oregon to South Carolina to image the solar corona. The project will then splice these images together to show the corona during a 90-minute period, revealing for the first time the plasma dynamics of the inner solar corona.

Solar Science in the Classroom

NASA's resources to learn more about the Sun.

Solar 60

A look behind the scenes at the Parker Solar Probe.

Integration and Testing

Parker Solar Probe’s integration and testing team must check over the spacecraft and systems to make sure everything is still in optimal working condition.

NASA HEAT

Curated by scientists, engineers, and educators from NASA and co-investigating institutions, the resources in this searchable database have been chosen because they have proven to be highly effective at engaging a variety of learners in heliophysics content and in NASA science. Quickly find education and outreach resources that you need by level, NGSS standards, cost, type, mission, etc.

NASA Solar System Ambassadors

This nationwide public engagement program works with more than 1,000 motivated volunteers to reach millions of people around the world. These volunteers are trained to communicate the excitement of NASA exploration, sharing information about recent discoveries with communities across the country. They will extend the PSP mission’s reach by sharing its story as well as supporting mission milestones with their audiences, and reporting the results. Links to recordings by Solar System Ambassadors will be included on the PSP outreach website.

NASA MIE Alliance

NASA’s Museum & Informal Education (MIE) Alliance is an active community of practice, providing instructors at informal education institutions with access to NASA resources. Via training, direct assistance, a chat forum, a member website of resources, periodic special opportunities and more, the alliance ensures that educators have the tools to effectively share NASA with their diverse audiences. Over 2,800 professional educators—representing more than 1,400 organizations across all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and more than 40 countries—are alliance members (as of March 2021). MIE Alliance staff manage all training, dissemination and reporting to collaborative partners. PSP will provide subject-matter experts and/or an outreach specialist per training.

Parker Solar Probe Fact Sheet

Parker Solar Probe Mission Guide

Parker Solar Probe Informational Printable

Intended to be printed double-sided on cardstock paper. Cut along marked border.

Parker Solar Probe Decal

Intended to be printed double-sided on sticker paper. Second page intended for printing on peel off back of sticker. Cut along marked border.

Parker Solar Probe Vertical Poster Printable

Intended to be printed as a 31.5" wide x 86.6" tall banner.

3D Printable Parker Model Detailed

This high-detail version includes the Fields antenna and prints with the solar array wings extended for a more dramatic display. Great for experienced printers looking for a detailed model.

3D Printable Parker Model Simplified

This simplified version is designed for easier printing with less support structure required. It features the solar array wings folded back, representing the spacecraft's configuration during its close solar passes.

Annual MakerPlace Technology Playground

The MakerPlace Technology Playground is an interactive space where hands-on exploration meets NASA’s cutting-edge missions. Designed for educators, students, and lifelong learners, it offers dynamic, hands-on experiences in coding, electronics, 3D modeling, robotics, and more. Participants engage in activities like Scratch and micro:bit programming, flying Co-Drones, creating in BlocksCAD, and experimenting with NASA’s Citizen Science Magnetometer. Each of the six stations fosters discovery, connecting technology with personal perspectives and local knowledge. By sharing stories and creative breakthroughs, participants explore technology as a tool for self-expression, collaboration, and storytelling. The MakerPlace Playground takes place annually at ISTE Live, with the next event in San Antonio on June 30, 2025.

MakerPlace: A National Initiative for Hands-On STEM Learning

MakerPlace is a nationwide initiative that brings together educators, students and lifelong learners for hands-on making, STEM exploration and creative problem-solving. Through workshops, design challenges and collaborative projects, participants engage with cutting-edge scientific research that has real-world applications. Each month, Community Showcases provide a space for 10 communities to share projects, exchange ideas and connect with mission experts. These gatherings spark innovation and foster collaboration, creating opportunities for participants to develop valuable skills while contributing to shared learning experiences. Stay updated and get involved through our website and social media.

ISTE-Certified Outreach Challenge

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) hosts a private online community for ISTE-certified educators, offering a platform for collaboration, problem-solving and innovation. Each year, ISTE launches a series of challenges that encourage educators to work individually or in teams to develop creative solutions to real-world problems. Since the mission launched, the ISTE-Certified Outreach Challenge has provided opportunities for educators to explore the groundbreaking science and engineering of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, connecting these elements to NASA’s broader fleet of exploration spacecraft. Educators can participate online through ISTE’s community and challenge events, where they can engage with experts, access NASA resources, and share their work with a network of like-minded educators.

Parker Solar Probe Museum and Science Center Events

The Parker Solar Probe team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory partners with museums and planetariums across the country to bring space science to life for visitors of all ages. A key feature of these events is the 15-minute film Science Through Shadows, Humanity Touches the Sun, which explores NASA’s groundbreaking Parker Solar Probe mission. Scientists and engineers from the Parker team also lead discussions and presentations on the latest discoveries about the Sun. To enhance these events, APL has developed an online kit of free materials and activities that museums and planetariums can share with the public, offering an interactive way to experience the mission and its science. These events are designed for museum visitors, educators, students, and space enthusiasts who want to learn more about the Sun and NASA’s heliophysics missions. Science centers and planetariums interested in hosting a Parker Solar Probe event can reach out for more details. Current partners include the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium, Bishop Museum, Fiske Planetarium, Kennedy Space Center and the New Mexico Museum of Natural History.