NASA is about to send the fastest human-made object closer to the Sun than ever before. The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, is on a mission to uncover the mysteries of our star. Its goal is to understand the powerful processes that affect life on Earth, especially the energy and phenomena we experience from the Sun.
What the Parker Solar Probe Has Achieved So Far
Since its launch, the Parker Solar Probe has made significant progress. It has flown closer to the Sun and studied the corona, the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, which can be seen during a solar eclipse. Now, the probe is preparing for the most exciting phase of its mission: getting closer to the Sun than any spacecraft ever has before.
Closer Than Ever Before
The Parker Solar Probe will pass through the Sun’s atmosphere and come within just 6 million kilometers of the Sun’s surface. This is about 4% of the distance between Earth and the Sun, which is an incredible achievement for a spacecraft.
Mission managers won’t know how the Parker Solar Probe has performed until days after the flyby. The spacecraft will be out of communication range during its closest approach to the Sun.
The Fastest Spacecraft Ever Built
The Parker Solar Probe will fly more than seven times closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft. At its closest point, it will reach speeds of 430,000 mph (690,000 kph), making it the fastest spacecraft ever built. To protect the probe from extreme heat, it is equipped with a heat shield that can withstand temperatures up to 2,500°F (1,371°C).
What Scientists Hope to Learn
As the Parker Solar Probe continues its journey around the Sun, scientists are hoping to learn more about the Sun’s corona. Why is it so much hotter than the Sun’s surface? What causes the solar wind, a continuous stream of charged particles that blasts out from the Sun?
Understanding these phenomena will help scientists predict solar storms, which can interfere with communication systems and disrupt power grids on Earth.
The Sun’s Current Activity
Right now, the Sun is in the peak phase of its 11-year cycle, which is producing colorful auroras in unexpected places on Earth. While the Sun provides the energy needed for life on Earth, its violent solar storms can also cause disruptions.
NASA’s Joe Westlake on the Sun
“It both is our closest, friendliest neighbour,” says NASA’s Joe Westlake, “but also at times is a little angry.”
