NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has reached a groundbreaking milestone, becoming the closest any spacecraft has ever flown to the Sun, unlocking new insights into the star's mysteries.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history, achieving humanity's closest-ever approach to the Sun. On December 27, the spacecraft passed just 3.8 million miles from the Sun's surface, entering the corona—the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
This unprecedented feat was confirmed with a green beacon signal, signaling the probe's successful passage through extreme solar conditions.
Dr. Joe Westlake, NASA's Heliophysics Director, hailed the achievement as a significant milestone. "We actually got back a green beacon last night, indicating that the Parker Solar Probe completed humanity’s closest flyby of the Sun," Westlake said. "We flew through the upper atmosphere of the corona of the Sun—an amazing accomplishment."
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe uses Venus's gravity to tighten its orbit and travels at an astounding speed of 430,000 miles per hour. The spacecraft is subjected to extreme temperatures, up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the probe’s primary mission is nearing completion, its stable orbit ensures the continuation of its work. "There's enough fuel and resources for an extended mission," said Westlake, "allowing us to conduct more flybys and capture unique solar events."
NASA expects detailed data from the historic flyby to begin arriving by January 1, offering new opportunities for scientific discovery and deepening our understanding of the Sun’s behavior.
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American figure skating star Ilia Malinin endured a dramatic collapse in the men’s free skate on Friday night, falling twice and tumbling out of medal contention at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov surged to a surprise gold medal.
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Dubai-based global ports operator DP World said on Friday that its long-serving chairman and chief executive, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, has stepped down following mounting pressure linked to alleged ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Speaking at Munich Security Conference, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha calls for decisive steps ahead of expected Geneva talks
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has partially shut down after Congress failed to reach agreement on immigration enforcement changes, deepening a political standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats.
Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said on Friday (13 February) that Israel remains committed to the complete demilitarization of the Gaza Strip and the disarmament of Hamas, calling for intensified operations to destroy tunnel networks and control access along the ceasefire line.
“Real security guarantees are needed before the war ends,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (14 February), warning that Russian aggression shows no sign of relenting.
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