On December 24, 2024, NASA’s  Parker Solar Probe made its closest approach (perihelion) at just 6.1 million kilometers (3.8 million miles) from the solar surface.

• The spacecraft achieved a record-breaking speed of 700,000 km/h (430,000 mph), making it the fastest human-made object in history.

Significance of the Flyby

• Study Solar Heating:
  • Investigate how solar material in the corona heats up to millions of degrees.
• Understand Solar Wind:
  • Trace the origin of the solar wind, the continuous flow of charged particles emitted by the Sun.
• Explore Energetic Particles:
  • Examine how particles accelerate to near-light speeds in the Sun’s atmosphere.
• Valuable Insights:
  • Data from the mission will help scientists understand the origins and behavior of solar phenomena, contributing to space weather prediction and solar physics.
  • Provide insights into solar energy processes, impacting our understanding of the Sun-Earth relationship.

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About Parker Solar Probe (2018)

• Launch: It  was launched in 2018 by NASA to study the Sun and its atmosphere.
• Mission objectives: To study the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s corona, the Sun’s magnetic field, and the solar wind.
• Features:
• • Scientific Instruments: Fields Experiment (FIELDS), Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISIS), Solar Wind Electrons Alphas and Protons (SWEAP) and Wide Field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR).
• Trajectory:
  • The spacecraft has conducted 21 close approaches to the Sun so far, with three more planned for even closer proximity.
• Gravity-Assist Maneuvers:
  • It used Venus’ gravity seven times to adjust its orbit and refine its trajectory for closer approaches.
  • The final gravity-assist maneuver occurred on November 6, 2024, bringing the probe within 387 kilometers of Venus’ surface.
• Parker Solar Probe and its instruments are protected from the Sun by a 4.5-inch-thick (11.43 cm) carbon-composite shield, which can withstand temperatures reaching nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 Celsius).