Parker Solar Probe
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft launched to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere at close range.
Also known as: Parker probe, Solar Probe Plus
How big is it?
3 m · overall spacecraft height
Overall spacecraft height · approximate
Typical recorded range: 2.9 m to 3.1 m.

A little perspective
Parker Solar Probe vs Table tennis table: length comparison
The overall spacecraft height of the Parker Solar Probe is about 1.09 times the length of a table tennis table.
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft launched to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere at close range.
A table tennis table is a flat, rectangular surface divided by a net for playing the game of table tennis.
Both rulers start at the same zero and share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its original proportions. Horizontal rulers compare the selected spans; vertical brackets also identify height on the artwork.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Parker Solar Probe
Overall spacecraft height: 3 m; approximate; range 2.9 m–3.1 m.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is approximately 3 m high with a 2.3 m heat-shield diameter and had a launch mass of about 685 kg. The deployed solar arrays and instrument appendages do not define the calibrated height.
NASA — Parker Solar Probe mission
The marked overall spacecraft height is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Table tennis table
Length: 2.74 m; standard.
2.74 × 1.525 m playing surface. Excludes surrounding space.
WA Government — table tennis dimensions
The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Use the visual comparison to explore its scale, then check the measurements and sources.
Change your perspective
Put it next to…
Choose a suggestion to redraw the comparison, or open its page to learn what it is.
Why this measurement?
Why we use 3 m
We compare the overall spacecraft height of the Parker Solar Probe. This is an estimate; check the notes for its rounding and uncertainty. The recorded range is 2.9 m to 3.1 m.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is approximately 3 m high with a 2.3 m heat-shield diameter and had a launch mass of about 685 kg. The deployed solar arrays and instrument appendages do not define the calibrated height.
The marked vertical span follows the measured feature, not the edges of the image. How calibrated comparisons work →
Recorded properties
Dimensions and measurements
| Property | Selected value | Recorded range | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 m | 2.9 m to 3.1 m | approximate | |
| 685 kg | 680 kg to 690 kg | approximate |
Around this scale
Explore nearby values.
Compare examples with lower, similar and higher values. Each card names the measurement being compared.
Nearest lower valuePlanets, moons and spaceNew Horizons spacecraft2.2 mSpacecraft body heightNew Horizons is a NASA spacecraft launched to study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, carrying scientific instruments and powered by a radioisotope generator.
Around the same scaleEveryday objectsLiving-room rug3 mLengthA living-room rug is a large textile floor covering used to add comfort and style to a room.
Nearest higher valuePlanets, moons and spaceGaia spacecraft3.5 mApproximate observatory heightGaia is a European Space Agency observatory designed to map the positions and motions of stars in the Milky Way.Sources and method
Want to check the number?
The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.
- NASA — Parker Solar Probe missionSpacecraft mission, launch mass and heat-shield context.
There’s always another scale





