The mission made history on December 24 when the Parker Solar Probe reached closer to the Sun’s surface than any other spacecraft ever had.
The probe came within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s blazing surface, where it collected samples of the star’s atmosphere for the very first time.
During this daring flyby, the probe passed through the outer atmosphere of the Sun, known as the ‘corona’. This region can reach temperatures ranging from 1.8 million to 3.6 million degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 2 million degrees Celsius). From Earth, we can spot the corona as the glowing, wispy light seen during a total solar eclipse.
Zooming through space at a mind-blowing speed of 435,000 mph, the Parker Solar Probe holds the title for the fastest object ever built by humans. And it captured breathtaking, never-before-seen images of the Sun’s atmosphere during this historic pass.
“Parker Solar Probe has once again transported us into the dynamic atmosphere of our closest star.” said Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C.
He also said: “We are witnessing where space weather threats to Earth begin, with our eyes, not just with models.”
NASA’s social media posts of the Parker Solar Probe’s images quickly went viral and left people speechless.
One way to picture the footage is to imagine the movement of a puff of smoke or something squirting through water. That’s kind of how the solar material swirls and flows through space.
NASA explained that the solar wind—along with occasional bursts of solar particles and magnetic fields can have serious effects. It can create auroras, strip atmospheres from planets, and even cause electrical issues by overloading power grids or interfering with communication systems here on Earth.
Still, after seeing the jaw-dropping images, a lot of people had the same big question. They were puzzled about how the Parker Solar Probe could get so close to something as dangerously hot as the Sun without being destroyed.
One viewer asked: “How are they able to capture that with so much heat.”
Well, here’s the science behind it. The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a specially designed solar shield, shaped like a hexagon, that faces directly toward the Sun.
And there you have it – the Parker Solar Probe has not only survived this intense journey but has also given us our closest look at the Sun so far. Truly a giant leap in space exploration.