NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made history, completing its closest-ever flyby of the sun, coming within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometres) of the solar surface.
This milestone marks humanity’s closest approach to a star, setting the stage for groundbreaking discoveries in solar physics and space weather forecasting.
The event took place on Christmas Eve, with the spacecraft reaching an unprecedented speed of 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometres per hour), making it the fastest human-made object in history.
The mission control team at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory confirmed the success of the flyby after receiving a signal from the probe late Thursday night.
Unveiling the sun’s mysteries
Launched in August 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has been on a mission to study the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, and gather crucial data about solar winds, coronal mass ejections and the sun’s magnetic fields.
The spacecraft became the first to “touch” the sun in December 2021, flying directly through the corona to collect data on how the sun’s energy and particles interact with space.
One of the mission’s main objectives is to understand how the sun’s corona is significantly hotter than its surface – a mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades.
Additionally, the probe is studying solar storms and their impact on earth, as these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) can disrupt satellite communications, power grids and even cause spectacular auroras.
Built to withstand extreme conditions
The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a 4.5-inch-thick (11.4-centimetre) carbon-composite heat shield, designed to endure temperatures of up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,400 degrees Celsius).
Even at such close proximity to the sun, the spacecraft’s internal systems remain at room temperature, thanks to an advanced cooling system.
During the latest flyby, the probe navigated through intense solar radiation and plasma bursts, conditions no spacecraft has previously experienced.
Over the coming weeks, scientists will analyse the data gathered to refine models of solar activity and improve space weather predictions.
The Parker Solar Probe is now entering the final phase of its mission, with two more close approaches scheduled for March 22 and June 19, 2025.
With the sun currently at its solar maximum, these final flybys provide an unprecedented opportunity to observe the sun at peak activity.