On December 24, 2024, NASA's Parker Solar Probe reached a record-breaking distance of just 6.1 million km (3.8 million miles) from the Sun's surface, traveling through the solar atmosphere at an unprecedented speed of 692,000 km per hour (430,000 mph). This milestone marks the fastest speed ever attained by a human-made object, with confirmation of the spacecraft's safe passage received two days later.
The Parker Solar Probe relies on a specialized carbon foam shield to withstand the extreme conditions of the solar corona, where temperatures can exceed 500,000 degrees Celsius (1 million degrees Fahrenheit). The shield is designed to endure temperatures up to 1,427 degrees Celsius (2,600 degrees Fahrenheit), ensuring that the instruments behind it remain at a stable room temperature.
Dr. Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, emphasized the significance of this mission, stating, "Flying this close to the Sun is a historic moment in humanity's first mission to a star." The probe's close observations will enhance understanding of solar impacts on the Solar System and contribute to the knowledge of stellar behavior, aiding in the search for habitable worlds.
Parker Solar Probe project scientist Dr. Nour Rawafi noted, "This mission is ushering in a new golden era of space exploration, bringing us closer than ever to unlocking the Sun's deepest mysteries." The spacecraft's ability to traverse the solar corona enables scientists to study phenomena such as the origin of the solar wind and the acceleration of energetic particles.
The Parker Solar Probe's next close solar passes are scheduled for March 22 and June 19, 2025, promising to deliver fresh data from a region previously unexplored by humanity.