On December 26, 2024, the Parker Solar Probe will make history by coming within just 6 million kilometers (3.7 million miles) of the Sun’s surface, setting an impressive record. This spacecraft, launched in 2018, was designed to endure the Sun’s extreme heat with a thermal shield capable of withstanding up to 1,370 degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit), something no other spacecraft has achieved.
The Sun’s corona is the great mystery this mission seeks to unravel. How can this outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, farther from the core, be thousands of times hotter than the surface? With temperatures exceeding 1 million degrees Celsius (1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit), the corona is the source of solar winds and radiation that directly impact Earth.
These phenomena can disrupt satellite communications, damage power grids, and put astronauts at risk. Understanding the corona is not just a scientific endeavor but also a global safety priority. During this historic close approach, the Parker Solar Probe will travel at an astounding 690,000 kilometers per hour (430,000 miles per hour), making it one of the fastest objects ever created by humans. While it will temporarily be out of communication range, the data it collects promises to transform our understanding of the Sun.
Scientists are optimistic: this mission could finally answer questions like why the corona is so hot, how solar winds accelerate, and what truly shapes space weather. Each discovery brings NASA closer to decoding the Sun’s secrets and preparing humanity for the challenges it poses.
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