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NASA's Parker Solar Probe Survives Closest-Ever Approach to Sun on Christmas Eve at 3.8 Million Miles, 430,000 MPH

Dec 28, 2024, 05:00 AM

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its closest-ever approach to the Sun, flying within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the star's surface on Christmas Eve. The spacecraft, launched in 2018, endured temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit during its flyby, protected by a carbon foam shield capable of withstanding up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Traveling at a record-breaking speed of 430,000 miles per hour (690,000 km/h), the probe became the fastest human-made object ever. This was the probe's 22nd approach to the Sun, utilizing Venus flybys to adjust its orbit. NASA confirmed the spacecraft's safety and normal operation after receiving a signal late Thursday, following a period of silence during the flyby. The mission aims to study the Sun's corona and solar wind, contributing to a better understanding of solar phenomena and their impacts on Earth and space technology.