NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set to become the closest human-made object has ever gotten to the sun, passing within 3.86 million miles of its surface on December 24. The probe, launched in August 2018, has been gradually orbiting closer to the sun since then.
Engineered to study the corona, the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, the Parker Solar Probe will be inside the upper atmosphere and literally touch the star during its closest approach. This mission is crucial for understanding solar activity, which can impact satellites in space and navigation for astronauts.
The probe used Venus’ gravity to alter its speed and direction, allowing it to enter its final orbit around the sun. Tools on board the probe will collect data on the energy flowing out from the star, helping scientists better understand life on Earth’s dependence on the sun.
By studying the solar corona, scientists can predict space weather and understand the sun’s processes better. The Parker Solar Probe is traveling at 430,000 mph, making it the fastest human-made object in history. Its heat shield has been designed to withstand temperatures of up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit and will insulate scientific measurement equipment.
The probe’s recent flyby of Venus helped scientists learn more about the planet and its surface properties. This is the final orbital configuration for Parker Solar Probe, which will no longer be able to fight against pressure from the sun once it runs out of fuel, causing it to incinerate.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/nasa-parker-solar-probe-sun/story?id=116905468