NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Zooms Within Record-Breaking 3.8 Million Miles of the Sun

Washington D.C., Dec 24 - In a historic technological feat, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully flown within 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface, shattering records set by human-made objects to date. The car-sized spacecraft, traveling at a staggering speed of 430,000 mph (690,000 kph), is just shy of Mercury's orbit around the star.
At 6:53 a.m. ET on Tuesday, NASA scientists confirmed that Parker had achieved its mission objective, breaking its own record as the fastest human-made object in history. The spacecraft's proximity to the sun has left scientists eager for updates and scientific data.
"We can't wait to receive that first status update from the spacecraft and start receiving the science data in the coming weeks," said Arik Posner, program scientist for Parker Solar Probe at NASA Headquarters.
The mission control team is currently unable to communicate with the probe due to its extreme distance from Earth, but they expect to receive a beacon signal on December 27 that will confirm its success. Images collected during the flyby are expected to arrive early next year, followed by scientific data when the probe swoops further away from the sun.
Parker's journey is designed to help scientists decode some of the biggest mysteries about our sun, including why its outermost layer heats up as it moves further from the surface and what processes accelerate charged particles to near-light speeds. Other goals include studying comets and the surface of Venus.
During the flyby, Parker is expected to capture stunning views of the sun's corona and possibly observe solar flares and auroras on Earth due to increased turbulence on the sun's surface.
As NASA celebrates this remarkable achievement, scientists hope that the probe will shed new light on our understanding of the sun and its impact on our universe. With temperatures currently at 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (982 degrees Celsius), Parker is braving extreme conditions thanks to its specially designed heat shield and thermal protection system.
Stay tuned for updates as NASA analyzes further data from its historic expedition into the heart of our star.