How to Use the Parker Solar Probe 3D Explorer - Step by Step
Open the Parker Solar Probe 3D Explorer, press Play or drag the mission-progress slider, then read the facts panel to see the real published date, distance, and speed at each Venus flyby and perihelion.
Press Play or drag the progress slider
Press #t3dPspPlayBtn to auto-advance the spacecraft along its real 2018-2024 mission timeline, or drag #t3dPspProgress (0 to 100) to jump straight to any point. Dragging the slider pauses auto-play.
Read the milestone table
The facts panel lists all 10 real mission milestones - launch, each dated Venus flyby, and each perihelion - with the currently active one highlighted. Scrub the slider and watch the highlighted row change to match the spacecraft's position.
Watch the orbit tighten at each Venus flyby
Each time the timeline passes a Venus-flyby milestone, the spacecraft's orbit path visibly steps closer to the Sun. This is the real V7GA trajectory design: seven Venus gravity assists, each lowering the closest approach without extra fuel.
Watch for the heat-shield note
Scrub past 88% progress to reach the record-closest approach on December 24, 2024. A heat-shield note appears in the panel, showing the shield's real published temperature rating alongside the spacecraft body's near-room-temperature interior.
Click the Sun, Venus, or the spacecraft
Click any of the three objects in the scene to refresh the facts panel with the current milestone without moving the slider.
Drag to orbit and use fullscreen
Drag to orbit the camera, scroll or pinch to zoom, and use the Fullscreen button to expand the whole wrapper for a clearer view of the Sun, Venus, and the orbit path.
Next: see when to use this explorer or how it compares to the Cassini Grand Finale 3D Explorer.
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