NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history on December 24 by flying into the sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, marking the closest any human-made object has ever come to a star.
The probe flew within 6.1 million km of the sun's surface, a significant achievement in solar research. As the spacecraft reached speeds of up to 692,000 kph, it endured extreme temperatures of nearly 982 degrees Celsius, pushing the limits of its technology.
Dr. Nicholeen Viall, a heliophysicist and Punch Mission scientist, explained, “To get that close, we had to use Venus to have our gravity assist to slow Parker down so that it could get that close. Also, we had to not melt. That's why Parker has this heat shield that holds the instruments at room temperature and keeps the heat of the sun away.”
The Parker Solar Probe, which launched in 2018, has been gradually getting closer to the sun using Venus flybys to adjust its orbit.
On this close flyby, the probe passed through the solar atmosphere for the second time, after its initial entry in 2021, revealing new details about the sun’s corona. “We have never had a human-made object so close to the sun,” Dr. Viall added, highlighting the importance of this mission in studying solar phenomena.
The probe’s mission is especially timely, as it coincides with the solar maximum, a period when the sun is most active, with frequent solar flares and coronal mass ejections. Research astrophysicist Dr. J. Grant Mitchell noted, “We're here at Solar Maximum, which is the time that the sun is the most dynamic... by passing this close to the sun, we're able to observe these explosions close up.”
This proximity allows the probe to capture these powerful solar events in unprecedented detail, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study their origins before they reach Earth.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is making history again. On December 24, the spacecraft will plunge into the sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, pushing scientific boundaries further than ever before.
Two astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are hit with a new delay after months of being stuck in the International Space Station.
A SpaceX power outage disrupted mission control during a historic private spacewalk, raising concerns over safety, transparency, and potential conflicts of interest.
NASA's Europa Clipper mission has launched to explore Jupiter's moon Europa, aiming to determine if its vast subsurface ocean can support life. The spacecraft will fly 1.8 billion miles, conducting 49 flybys of the icy moon to gather critical data on its potential habitability.
Qatar has called for the immediate removal of international sanctions on Syria, emphasizing the need for inclusive political reforms and democratic elections in the wake of Bashar al-Assad's regime collapse.
In the serene landscapes of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, a groundbreaking project is redefining renewable energy.
Farid Huseynov, Head of the AZAL Press Department, has confirmed that a total of 67 people were on board the plane involved in the recent incident, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members.
World leaders have expressed condolences following the tragic crash of an AZAL flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, offering support and solidarity to the victims' families.
Negotiations at COP29 in Baku face a critical impasse as sharp divisions over climate finance and fossil fuel commitments threaten progress.
"Come up with the video in its full form," demands the COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov, in an exclusive interview with AnewZ. The chief executive has broken his silence on the claims he was using his position to organise potential fossil fuel deals.
Qatar has called for the immediate removal of international sanctions on Syria, emphasizing the need for inclusive political reforms and democratic elections in the wake of Bashar al-Assad's regime collapse.
In the serene landscapes of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, a groundbreaking project is redefining renewable energy.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is making history again. On December 24, the spacecraft will plunge into the sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, pushing scientific boundaries further than ever before.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced on Wednesday that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Egypt for the fourth review under its Extended Fund Facility.
Brazilians forced to cross river by boat after deadly bridge collapse
Qatar has called for the immediate removal of international sanctions on Syria, emphasizing the need for inclusive political reforms and democratic elections in the wake of Bashar al-Assad's regime collapse.
In the serene landscapes of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, a groundbreaking project is redefining renewable energy.
Farid Huseynov, Head of the AZAL Press Department, has confirmed that a total of 67 people were on board the plane involved in the recent incident, including 62 passengers and 5 crew members.
World leaders have expressed condolences following the tragic crash of an AZAL flight near Aktau, Kazakhstan, offering support and solidarity to the victims' families.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment