NASA's Parker Solar Probe Sets Historic Record by Flying Closer to the Sun Than Ever Before
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NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to achieve a historic milestone by flying closer to the sun than any human-made object ever. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, at 6:53 a.m. EST, the spacecraft will reach its closest point to the sun, just 3.8 million miles from the solar surface. This will be the probe's 22nd close encounter with the sun since its launch in 2018 and its closest approach yet, surpassing its previous record of 4.51 million miles set earlier this year.
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During this close approach, the Parker Solar Probe will travel at an astonishing speed of about 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour), making it the fastest spacecraft ever. The mission aims to study the sun's corona, the super-hot outer atmosphere, to understand why it is so much hotter than the sun's surface and to explore other solar phenomena.
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The spacecraft is equipped with a heat shield made of a carbon foam material that is 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide and 4.5 inches (11 centimeters) thick, designed to withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 degrees Celsius). This shield protects the probe's scientific instruments and components from the extreme heat it will encounter during the flyby.Communication with the Parker Solar Probe will be temporarily lost during the closest approach, as the intense solar environment will disrupt signals. The mission team expects to receive a beacon tone from the spacecraft on December 27, confirming its health and successful navigation through the flyby. The first data from this unprecedented close approach is anticipated to be transmitted back to Earth by January 1, 2025.This mission is part of NASA's Living With a Star program, which aims to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. The Parker Solar Probe's findings are expected to revolutionize our understanding of the sun and its influence on the solar system.