NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is making history with a record-breaking flight around the Sun, coming within 3.8 million miles of its outer corona atmosphere. The spacecraft reached speeds of up to 430,000 miles per hour and endured temperatures as high as 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. This close pass to the Sun is the closest the probe will ever get, with the data expected to be transmitted back to Earth in January 2025. The mission is part of NASA’s efforts to conduct groundbreaking scientific research and explore our closest star.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has performed multiple flybys of Venus to gradually move closer to the Sun. These flybys have provided valuable insights into Venus, as the spacecraft’s onboard instruments can capture visible and near-infrared light from the planet, allowing researchers to peer through its dense cloud cover. When the probe first entered the Sun’s atmosphere in 2021, it provided groundbreaking information about the corona. This mission marks the closest approach of any human-made object to a star, paving the way for data from uncharted territory that has the potential to change our understanding of the Sun.
The Parker Solar Probe’s close pass to the Sun occurred around 7 am ET on Tuesday, but the confirmation of this milestone won’t be received until Friday. The spacecraft is scheduled to orbit the Sun two more times, with data from this flyby expected to be transmitted back to Earth in early 2025. This mission is part of NASA’s Living With a Star program, which aims to explore aspects of the solar system that impact life on Earth. The agency is committed to conducting unrivaled scientific research that has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun.
The Parker Solar Probe mission operations manager expressed excitement about hearing back from the spacecraft after it swings back around the Sun. With no human-made object having ever passed this close to a star before, the data collected by the probe will provide crucial insights into the Sun’s corona and outer atmosphere. The spacecraft’s journey into uncharted territory is a monumental achievement in space exploration, highlighting the cutting-edge capabilities of NASA’s technology and the dedication of its scientists. This landmark mission is set to pave the way for further discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the solar system and beyond.
