In a milestone for space exploration, a NASA spacecraft achieved an unprecedented proximity to the Sun. On December 24, Christmas Eve, the Parker Solar Probe, equipped with a special shield, became the closest human-made object to the Sun. It reached an incredible distance of 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the solar surface.
This achievement occurred at 11:53 UTC (6:53 EST) and marked the 22nd close approach of the probe to the Sun. The spacecraft reached only 39% of Mercury’s orbital distance, demonstrating exceptional technological precision and resilience.
Dr. Nour Raouafi, the project scientist from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, emphasized the significance of this milestone. He compared it to the Moon landing in 1969. “We’ve waited nearly 60 years for this moment. In 1969, we landed on the Moon. Now, on Christmas Eve, we’ve embraced our star,” he said during a press conference.
NASA describes this phase of the mission as a “hyper-approach.” During this period, the probe traverses plasma regions still connected to the Sun. Parker directly interacts with solar eruptions, like a surfer diving beneath an ocean wave.
The extreme temperatures faced by the spacecraft are astounding: about 500 times hotter than any heat experienced on Earth. Despite this, the probe’s advanced technology allowed it to remain operational and collect crucial data about our star.
In its most recent pass, Parker broke its own speed records, reaching 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h). This speed would allow the spacecraft to travel from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in just one second.
Although mission operators at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland lose contact with the probe during these close approaches due to intense solar radiation, they expect to receive a signal confirming its safety on December 27, 2024.
The mission plans two more close approaches to the Sun in 2025, on March 22 and June 19. These will further solidify Parker’s contributions to space science.