A NASA spacecraft is on a mission to fly closer to the sun than any object has gone before.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe is designed to provide a close-up view of the sun. It has already traveled through the sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere visible during a total solar eclipse.
The next goal is to achieve the closest approach to the sun. On Tuesday, the Parker Solar Probe is set to pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface, flying through the sizzling solar atmosphere.
According to NASA’s Joe Westlake, if the sun and Earth were on opposite ends of a football field, Parker would be on the 4-yard line at the closest approach.
After the flyby, mission managers will need to wait several days to assess Parker’s performance as the spacecraft will be out of communication range.
Parker Solar Probe is expected to reach speeds of 430,000 mph at its closest approach, making it the fastest spacecraft ever built. It is equipped with a heat shield capable of withstanding temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The spacecraft will continue orbiting the sun at this close distance until at least September. Scientists hope to gain a better understanding of why the corona is significantly hotter than the sun’s surface and what causes the solar wind, a rapid stream of charged particles emitted from the sun.
While the sun’s rays support life on Earth, severe solar storms can disrupt radio communications and power systems temporarily.
During the current maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, the sun is producing colorful auroras in unexpected locations.
“The sun is both our closest, friendliest neighbor,” Westlake commented, “but also can be a little angry at times.”
By Adithi Ramakrishnan
