The Parker Solar Probe is making history by flying closer to the Sun than ever before, entering its outer atmosphere and enduring extreme heat and radiation. During this fly-by, it will be out of communication, and scientists are eagerly waiting for a signal on December 28 to confirm its survival.
Launched in 2018, the probe has completed 21 orbits, steadily getting closer. On Christmas Eve, it reached just 3.8 million miles from the Sun’s surface. To put it simply, if the Sun and Earth were one meter apart, the probe would be only four centimeters away. It faces temperatures of 1,400°C, but it’s protected by a special heat shield and moves incredibly fast at 430,000 mph.
The mission aims to solve mysteries about the Sun, like why its outer atmosphere, the corona, is millions of degrees hotter than its surface. It will also help scientists understand the solar wind, which affects Earth by causing auroras and potentially disrupting technology.
NASA scientists are anxiously awaiting news of the probe’s survival, but they trust its tough design. If successful, the Parker Solar Probe will continue to explore the Sun, helping us learn more about its behavior and effects on Earth.
