Parker Probe survives 'touching sun' in record-breaking flyby

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30-12-2024, 21:06

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INA - SOURCES

In August 2018, NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) began its long journey to study the Sun's outer corona.
After several gravity-assist maneuvers with Venus, the probe broke Helios 2's distance record and became the closest object to the Sun on October 29th, 2018.

Since then, the Parker probe's highly elliptical orbit has allowed it to pass through the Sun's corona several times ('touch the Sun').

On December 24th, 2024, NASA confirmed that their probe made its closest approach to the Sun, passing just 6 million km (3.8 million mi) above the surface – roughly 0.04 times the distance between the Sun and Earth (0.04 AU).

In addition to breaking its previous distance record, the PSP passed through the solar atmosphere at a velocity of about 692,000 km/h (430,000 mph). This is equivalent to about 0.064% the speed of light, making the Parker Solar Probe the fastest human-made object ever.

After the spacecraft made its latest pass, it sent a beacon tone to confirm that it made it through safely and was operating normally – which was received on December 26th. These close passes allow the PSP to conduct science operations that will expand our knowledge of the origin and evolution of solar wind.

Every flyby the probe made with Venus in the past six years brought it closer to the Sun in its elliptical orbit.

As of November 6th, 2024, the spacecraft reached an optimal orbit that brings it close enough to study the Sun and the processes that influence space weather but not so close that the Sun's heat and radiation will damage it.

To ensure the spacecraft can withstand temperatures in the corona, the Parker probe relies on a carbon foam shield that can withstand temperatures between 980 and 1425 °C (1,800 and 2,600 degrees °F).

This shield also keeps the spacecraft instruments shaded and at room temperature to ensure they can operate in the solar atmosphere.