Update 1/3/25
Parker Solar Probe Successfully Completes Record-Breaking Christmas Flyby, Touches the Sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has achieved another historic milestone, becoming the first spacecraft to touch the Sun during its closest-ever encounter on December 24, 2024. The spacecraft ventured into the Sun’s upper atmosphere, known as the corona, coming within just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface. During this groundbreaking flyby, the probe passed through the corona's outermost layers, directly sampling particles and magnetic fields in the Sun’s atmosphere.
Enduring extreme heat and radiation, the Parker Solar Probe reached record-breaking speeds of approximately 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour). Its revolutionary heat shield allowed it to withstand the intense temperatures, keeping its instruments safe and operational as it gathered unprecedented data on solar wind, energetic particles, and the Sun's complex magnetic environment.
NASA confirmed the mission's success on December 26, when the mission team at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory received a beacon signal indicating the spacecraft's health and normal operation. Telemetry data, expected to provide deeper insights into the probe's performance and scientific findings, is anticipated by January 1, 2025.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe continues to push the boundaries of human exploration and understanding, providing scientists with direct observations from within the Sun’s atmosphere. This mission marks a monumental step in unlocking the secrets of our closest star, paving the way for a greater understanding of solar activity and its effects on Earth and the wider solar system.