NASA’s Parker Solar Probe of NASA has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by flying closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before it. On Tuesday, the probe’s heat shield was exposed to intense temperatures exceeding 1,700°F (930°C) as it conducted its historic flyby. Launched in August 2018, Parker is on a seven-year mission to explore the Sun and provide insights into space weather phenomena that could impact life on Earth.
Historic Perihelion Pass
The spacecraft’s closest approach to the Sun, known as perihelion, occurred at precisely 6:53 AM (1153 GMT) on Tuesday. However, mission scientists will need to wait until Friday for confirmation of the event, as Parker temporarily loses contact with Earth due to its proximity to the Sun. At its closest, the probe was positioned only a few yards from the Sun’s surface, a remarkable achievement in solar exploration.
Innovative Heat Shield Technology
Despite the extreme heat, Parker’s advanced heat shield has kept its internal instruments at near-room temperature, around 85°F (29°C), as it studies the Sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona. This technology is a testament to NASA’s innovative approach, enabling the spacecraft to withstand intense conditions while collecting valuable scientific data.
Speed and Data Collection
Moving at speeds of around 430,000 miles per hour (690,000 km/h), Parker is traveling faster than any human-made object in history. The spacecraft is on a mission to uncover key mysteries of the Sun, such as the origin of solar wind, the reasons behind the corona’s high temperature, and the formation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
Paving the Way for Future Solar Exploration
Parker’s flyby is a significant step in space exploration, returning data from previously uncharted territories. As the spacecraft continues its mission, scientists are eager to analyze the data it collects and address longstanding questions about our Sun.
