In a historic moment in space exploration, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe survived its closest approach to the Sun, flying just 3.8 million miles above the Sun’s surface at an unprecedented speed of 430,000 miles per hour. This remarkable achievement marks a new chapter in humanity’s quest to understand our stars.
Published in NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center |Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
On December 24, 2024, as much of the Earth celebrated holiday festivities, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history. The spacecraft, protected by an innovative carbon foam shield, flew closer to the Sun than any man-made object to date. Mission control received confirmation of the probe’s survival late on December 26, marking a successful milestone in its journey to understanding the mysteries of our star.
Nikki Fox, leader of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, explains: “Flying this close to the sun is a historic moment in humanity’s first mission to the stars.” This accomplishment is no accident. It is the result of six years of careful orbital mechanics, including seven strategic Venus flybys that incrementally adjusted the spacecraft’s orbit.
Engineering Marvel meets solar power challenges
In its current position, the probe is exposed to temperatures that would melt steel. Engineered to withstand up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit, the carbon foam shield keeps your scientific instruments at room temperature while withstanding the multi-million degree environment of the solar corona. During this passage, the shield was expected to reach 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a testament to ergonomic excellence.
revolutionary discovery
The spacecraft’s previous encounters are already calling into question our understanding of the Sun. It reveals unexpected wrinkles with spikes and troughs in the outer boundary of the corona, and points to the source of mysterious “switchbacks” (zigzag-like structures in the solar wind) in the sun’s photosphere. Identified.
“The data coming down from the spacecraft will give us fresh information about places we have never been before,” said Joe Westlake, director of NASA’s Heliophysics Division. The spacecraft’s next close encounters are scheduled for March 22 and June 19, 2025.
Glossary
- corona
- The outside air of the sun can exceed 1 million degrees Fahrenheit.
- solar wind
- A constant flow of matter escaping from the Sun into space.
- light sphere
- The visible surface of the sun where important solar phenomena occur.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
How fast was Parker Solar Probe traveling during its closest approach?
The spacecraft reached speeds of 430,000 miles per hour, making it the fastest man-made object in history.
What protects spacecraft equipment from the sun’s extreme heat?
A carbon foam shield protects the instrument and keeps it at room temperature while the shield is exposed to temperatures up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit.
How did the spacecraft reach an orbit so close to the sun?
The spacecraft used seven Venus flybys over six years to gravitationally adjust its orbit, eventually achieving an optimal orbit that brought it closer to the Sun every three months.
What unexpected discoveries did the spacecraft make about the sun’s corona?
The exploration revealed that, contrary to previous expectations, the outer boundary of the corona has wrinkles of peaks and valleys.
