Space Telescope – NASA Science”>NASA‘s Solar Probe Beats Close-Encounter Record with the Sun
In a groundbreaking feat, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully navigated and made it through its closest-ever approach to the Sun. The spacecraft, which is part of NASA’s mission to unlock the mysteries of our star, was considered in communication status at around 12:00 PM WIB on Friday, December 27, 2024.
This close encounter marked a significant milestone in the mission’s trajectory, as the spacecraft had been silent for several days due to extreme conditions around the Sun. NASA reported afterwards that the spacecraft was functioning normally after passing within 6.1 million kilometers of the Sun’s surface.
The Parker Solar Probe, traveling at speeds up to 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour), ventured into the Sun’s atmosphere on December 24, braving temperatures up to 980 degrees Celsius. This unprecedented journey has already provided valuable insights into the Sun’s high-temperature corona and the acceleration of energetic particles in this environment.
"By getting close to the Sun, we can observe the material that is heated to these incredibly high temperatures and understand how it gets that hot," NASA explained in a statement. "Parker Solar Probe is designed to track the flow of energy and help us understand the corona’s evolution."
As the spacecraft continues its descent towards the Sun, scientists hope it will soon transmit further data to unravel the long-standing mystery of the Sun’s hot corona. Furthermore, understanding the Sun’s influence on space weather and its potential impact on Earth’s technological infrastructure is a critical aspect of this mission.
"Studying the Sun’s corona is crucial for our daily lives on Earth," said Dr. Jenifer Millard, an astronomer at Fifth Star Labs in Wales. "Comprehending our star’s behavior and its interrelation with phenomena like auroras on Earth can help us prepare for and mitigate potential space weather effects."
