NASA’s Parker probe is flying closer to the sun than any object ever has

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe was poised to make history Tuesday with a record-breaking flyby around the Sun — though the news won’t be confirmed until Friday. It is expected that the spacecraft set a new benchmark Early morning on Christmas Eve, coming 3.8 million kilometers from the Sun’s outer corona atmosphere.

A NASA representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The probe was expected to make its closest pass to the Sun around 7 a.m. ET Tuesday. But the news cannot be confirmed until Friday, which is the first time the spacecraft can send a signal to Earth.

When the spacecraft reaches a new position in January 2025, it will transmit the data from this flyby to Earth.

Read more: See NASA’s stunning image of the Sun spewing its biggest solar flare since 2017

According to NASA, the Parker Solar Probe reached a speed of 430,000 miles per hour, enduring temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (982 Celsius). Although the probe is scheduled to orbit the Sun twice more, this mission marks the closest it will ever come.

“Data from uncharted territory”

The mission is part of a broader effort by scientists to “conduct unparalleled scientific research with the potential to change our understanding of our nearest star,” the agency said about its mission. website.

The spacecraft, launched in 2018, made several rounds of Venus to gradually approach the Sun. These flybys have also provided scientists with insights into Venus, thanks to onboard instruments capable of capturing visible and near-infrared light from the planet, the agency said on its website. This allowed the researchers to peer through the dense cloud cover of Venus.

When the probe first entered the Sun’s atmosphere in 2021, it provided groundbreaking information about the corona.

“No man-made object has ever passed this close to a star, so Parker is really going to send back data from uncharted territory,” Nick Pinkine, director of operations for the Parker Solar Probe mission, said in an earlier statement. press release. “We’re excited to hear back from the spacecraft as it orbits the Sun.”

The Parker Solar Probe is part of NASA’s Living With a Star program, which aims to explore aspects of the solar system that affect life on Earth.