Parker Solar Probe’s Historic Close Encounter with the Sun
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully weathered its closest-ever approach to the Sun. The space agency confirmed this groundbreaking event on December 23, 2024. The spacecraft soared within approximately 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface on December 24, 2024. This feat shattered its own previous record set in 2018, making it the closest artificial object ever to reach our star.
The probe withstood temperatures exceeding 1,400 degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit). It traveled at speeds nearing 430,000 mph (692,000 km/h), fast enough to journey from New York to Tokyo in under one minute. The spacecraft’s revolutionary heat shield, constructed from carbon-composite material, safeguarded its delicate instruments during this extreme encounter.
This historic flyby signifies a significant milestone in solar science. It has enabled researchers to study the Sun’s corona and solar wind with unprecedented detail. The data collected will assist scientists in gaining a better understanding of solar storms, space weather, and the fundamental physics of our star. This information is crucial for protecting satellites, power grids, and astronauts from dangerous solar activity.
“This achievement pushes the boundaries of human exploration,” noted mission scientists.
The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, will continue its mission with multiple close approaches planned through 2025. Each approach will provide invaluable data about the mechanisms that heat the Sun’s corona to millions of degrees.
Source: LiveScience