NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a historic milestone by flying just 3.8 million miles above the surface of the sun on December 24, 2024, setting a new record for the closest approach to the solar surface by a human-made object. The spacecraft reached speeds of 430,000 miles per hour, making it faster than any other vehicle in space.
The probe’s carbon foam shield protected it from extreme heat in the upper solar atmosphere, allowing it to collect valuable data on the sun’s mysterious processes. Scientists will use this information to better understand the sun’s impact on our solar system and uncover secrets about stars across the universe.
Parker Solar Probe has spent six years preparing for this moment, launching in 2018 and using seven flybys of Venus to guide it closer to the sun. The spacecraft is now in an oval-shaped orbit that brings it close enough to study the sun’s processes but not so close that it becomes overwhelmed by heat and radiation.
The probe’s success marks a new era in space exploration, with scientists eager to unlock the sun’s deepest mysteries. Future close passes will provide even more data on the solar wind and its acceleration away from the sun.
NASA officials praised the mission’s accomplishment, saying it brings us closer than ever before to understanding our star. The data collected by Parker Solar Probe will be a major breakthrough for humanity, providing fresh insights into the sun’s behavior.
The next close solar passes are scheduled for March 22, 2025, and June 19, 2025, with more information on upcoming flybys expected in the coming months.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/nasas-parker-solar-probe-makes-history-with-closest-pass-to-sun