NASA's Parker Solar Probe Makes Record-Breaking Closest Approach to the Sun

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by flying closer to the Sun than any spacecraft before. Launched in August 2018, the probe is on a seven-year mission to study the Sun and improve predictions of space-weather events that affect Earth. On Tuesday, it approached the Sun at a record-breaking distance while enduring temperatures over 1,700°F (930°C). Traveling at an incredible speed of 430,000 mph (690,000 kph), the probe’s instruments remained cool thanks to its advanced heat shield. Scientists expect to receive confirmation of the flyby and data by Friday. This mission aims to answer key questions about the Sun, including how the solar wind forms, why the corona is hotter than the surface, and how massive plasma clouds are created. The Christmas Eve flyby is the first of three close passes, with two more scheduled for March and June 2025.