A NASA spacecraft has made history by surviving its closest-ever approach to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe sent a signal to scientists just before midnight EST on Thursday (05:00 GMT Friday), after being out of contact for several days during its intense fly-by. NASA confirmed the probe was “safe” and functioning normally after coming within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the Sun’s surface.
On Christmas Eve, the probe entered the Sun’s outer atmosphere, enduring extreme temperatures and radiation in an effort to deepen our understanding of the Sun’s behavior. NASA had been anxiously awaiting a signal, which arrived as expected at 05:00 GMT on December 28.
Traveling at speeds of up to 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), the spacecraft encountered temperatures reaching 1,800°F (980°C), according to NASA.
“This close-up study of the Sun allows Parker Solar Probe to gather data that will help scientists better understand how material in this region is heated to millions of degrees, trace the origin of solar wind (a continuous flow of material from the Sun), and uncover how energetic particles are accelerated to nearly light speed,” NASA explained.
Dr. Nicola Fox, head of NASA’s science department, previously told media: “For centuries, people have studied the Sun, but you don’t truly experience its atmosphere until you visit it. We can’t understand the atmosphere of our star without flying through it.”
Launched in 2018, Parker Solar Probe has already made 21 flybys of the Sun, gradually getting closer, but the Christmas Eve visit was a record. At its closest approach, the spacecraft was just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the Sun’s surface.
To put this into perspective, Dr. Fox explained: “The Earth is 93 million miles from the Sun. If the Sun and Earth were one meter apart, the Parker Solar Probe would be just 4 cm from the Sun — that’s incredibly close.”
The probe endured temperatures of 1,400°C and radiation intense enough to damage onboard electronics. It was shielded by a 11.5cm (4.5-inch) thick carbon-composite cover, but the spacecraft’s strategy was to move quickly through the dangerous zone.
Moving faster than any other human-made object, at 430,000 mph, Parker Solar Probe’s speed was due to the immense gravitational pull as it neared the Sun.
Why go to such lengths to “touch” the Sun? Scientists hope to gather data that will solve a long-standing mystery. The Sun’s corona — its outer atmosphere — is much hotter than its surface, with temperatures reaching millions of degrees, though it’s farther from the Sun. Understanding this anomaly could provide vital insights into the Sun’s activity.
The mission also aims to deepen our understanding of solar wind — the continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun. When these particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, they create the spectacular auroras, but they can also cause disruptions, including damage to power grids, electronics, and communication systems.
“Understanding the Sun, its activity, space weather, and solar wind is crucial to our daily lives on Earth,” said Dr. Jenifer Millard, an astronomer at Fifth Star Labs in Wales.
NASA scientists waited anxiously over Christmas as the spacecraft was out of touch. Dr. Fox had hoped for a green heart emoji to indicate the spacecraft’s safety once communication was restored.
Despite her nerves, Dr. Fox had faith in the probe’s resilience. “I will worry about the spacecraft, but we’ve designed it to withstand these brutal conditions. It’s a tough little spacecraft.”
