NASA makes history with closest-ever approach to Sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has made history by surviving its closest-ever fly-by of the Sun, providing unprecedented insight into our star's behaviour.

On December 26, 2023, just before midnight EST (05:00 GMT on December 27), NASA received a signal confirming that the probe had successfully passed just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) from the Sun’s surface, Caliber.Az reports referring to British media.

The Parker Solar Probe, which had been out of communication for several days during its intense approach, ventured into the Sun’s outer atmosphere — known as the corona — on Christmas Eve. This daring manoeuvre exposed the spacecraft to extreme temperatures and radiation, with scientists nervously awaiting confirmation of its safe passage.

Despite the hazardous conditions, the spacecraft, moving at speeds up to 430,000 mph (692,000 kph), remained in good health, with NASA reporting that it was operating normally. Temperatures during the fly-by reached a scorching 1,800°F (980°C), but the spacecraft’s specially designed 4.5-inch thick carbon-composite shield protected it from the intense heat and radiation.

This milestone approach is part of Parker Solar Probe's ongoing mission, which began in 2018. The probe’s previous 21 passes brought it progressively closer to the Sun, but the Christmas Eve approach was record-breaking, marking the closest any human-made object has ever come to the star.

The Parker Solar Probe’s mission aims to answer critical questions about the Sun’s inner workings. By taking direct measurements of the Sun’s corona, the spacecraft will help scientists understand why this outer atmosphere is millions of degrees hotter than the Sun’s surface, an ongoing mystery in solar science.

In addition to studying the corona, Parker Solar Probe is investigating the solar wind — the continuous stream of charged particles that emanates from the Sun — and how particles are accelerated to near-light speed.

NASA’s historic achievement will provide invaluable data to unravel the Sun’s complex behaviour, enhancing our understanding of solar dynamics and improving space weather forecasting.

By Tamilla Hasanova