The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018 and once hailed as a groundbreaking achievement, has been relatively quiet since its launch. However, scientists are now poised to uncover new insights into the sun’s mysterious properties with the probe’s closest approach yet on Christmas Eve.
At a speed of 430,000 miles per hour, the Parker Solar Probe is the fastest-moving object ever built by humans. During its six-year journey, it has been studying the astrophysical properties of the sun and its complicated structure. The probe aims to understand the origins of the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the sun’s outermost layer.
According to NASA’s chief of science, Nicky Fox, scientists are driven by curiosity about the solar wind’s birthplace. “We want to find the birthplace of the solar wind,” Fox said. The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including a Faraday cup made from exotic materials like titanium-zirconium-molybdenum and sapphire crystal tubes for electronic wiring.
As the probe flies into the sun’s atmosphere, it will face extreme temperatures and radiation, requiring a remarkable heat shield to endure temperatures of over 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The spacecraft’s mission is not just about gathering data but also about pushing the boundaries of space technology.
On Christmas Eve, the Parker Solar Probe will make history by coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface, flying into the sun’s atmosphere for the first time. This groundbreaking moment marks a significant step forward in understanding the mysteries of our closest celestial neighbor.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/parker-solar-probe-atmosphere