NASA's Parker Solar Probe made history on December 24, flying within 6.1 million km of the sun’s surface, the closest any human-made object has ever been.
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 acting administrator Janet Petro said on Wednesday that a government efficiency panel led by Elon Musk will review the space agency’s spending, while confirming that hundreds of NASA employees have accepted a federal buyout plan.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to provide stunning insights into the universe.
NASA has swapped the capsule for its upcoming Crew-10 mission, using a previously flown SpaceX Crew Dragon instead of a delayed new one. The move brings forward the launch date to March 12, allowing an earlier return for two astronauts stranded aboard the ISS.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal period for commercial lunar exploration, with half a dozen missions slated to launch over the coming months. These ventures, led by private companies under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, mark a significant expansion of commercial
NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launching from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than spring 2025.
The European Union has called an emergency meeting in Munich to assess its relationship with the Trump administration, following the former president’s call with Vladimir Putin and growing uncertainty over Washington’s Ukraine policy.
Hezbollah fighters gather in the streets of Beirut to express their discontent to the Israeli occupation of the south of the country
Arab countries are working on a proposal to rebuild Gaza without displacing its population, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Friday, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion of relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether "bad data" contributed to the fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., last month, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.
Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, is laying off 10 percent of its workforce - approximately 1,400 employees - in an effort to streamline operations and reduce bureaucracy, CEO Dave Limp announced in an internal email.
The iconic Dubai Fountain will close for five months starting in May for a major upgrade, enhancing its technology, choreography, and sound system. Visitors can expect a more spectacular show when it returns in October.
Apple is reportedly working on a version of AirPods Pro with integrated cameras, set to launch as early as 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While the cameras won’t be featured in the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, the new tech aims to enhance AI-driven features and spatial audio integration.
Public sector strikes are causing major disruptions across Germany, including halted public transport in Frankfurt, as workers demand higher pay and better conditions.
Elon Musk has called for the shutdown of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA), arguing that the U.S.-funded media outlets serve as government propaganda tools and waste taxpayer money.
Oxford researchers unveil a scalable quantum supercomputer capable of quantum teleportation, paving the way for next-gen tech with enhanced security and computational power.
The European Union has called an emergency meeting in Munich to assess its relationship with the Trump administration, following the former president’s call with Vladimir Putin and growing uncertainty over Washington’s Ukraine policy.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether "bad data" contributed to the fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., last month, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.
Vance also compared European leaders to Cold War tyrants during his speech.
Hamas announced the release of three hostages on Saturday under a ceasefire deal with Israel.
Beit Lahiya is facing water crisis following the collapse of its water system due.
The European Union has called an emergency meeting in Munich to assess its relationship with the Trump administration, following the former president’s call with Vladimir Putin and growing uncertainty over Washington’s Ukraine policy.
Hezbollah fighters gather in the streets of Beirut to express their discontent to the Israeli occupation of the south of the country
Arab countries are working on a proposal to rebuild Gaza without displacing its population, Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Friday, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s suggestion of relocating Palestinians to Jordan and Egypt.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether "bad data" contributed to the fatal collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington, D.C., last month, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.
Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, is laying off 10 percent of its workforce - approximately 1,400 employees - in an effort to streamline operations and reduce bureaucracy, CEO Dave Limp announced in an internal email.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment