Despite the efforts of other global superpowers, America is still leading the world in groundbreaking space exploration.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has set a new record on Christmas Eve, coming within 3.86 million miles of the Sun’s surface and entering its atmospheric ring.
According to Space.com, this is the closest a spacecraft has ever traveled to the Sun, marking another triumph of American space exploration.
The perihelion, or closest point in its orbit, occurred at 6:53 a.m. Eastern Time on December 24th.
The fastest human-made object ever: @NASA‘s Parker Solar Probe (120 miles per second), today flies closer to the Sun than we’ve ever been. Learning about our star https://t.co/wRPSI3tBR1 pic.twitter.com/2T2KO0ABfX
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) December 24, 2024
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe iis on a mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and learn more about the science behind solar winds and magnetic fields.
Traveling at an astonishing speed of 430,000 miles per hour – the fastest of any human-made object – the probe uses an advanced heat shield to withstand temperatures exceeding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
These extreme conditions allow the spacecraft to gather crucial data that scientists hope will improve predictions of space weather and its impact on Earth.
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is making its closest-ever approach to the Sun!
More on this historic moment from @NASAScienceAA Nicola Fox
Follow Parker’s journey: https://t.co/MtDPCEK6w6#3point8 pic.twitter.com/Bq85XFa1QS
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) December 24, 2024
NASA confirmed that communication with the probe was lost as expected during its close encounter, a planned part of its mission design.
The last signal, received on December 20 via NASA’s Deep Space Network in Canberra, Australia, indicated that the spacecraft was functioning normally.
This Christmas, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make its closest-ever approach to the Sun. pic.twitter.com/hz2OPg5PAd
— Space and Technology (@spacetech67) December 24, 2024
Mission engineers expect to re-establish contact on December 27 to confirm the success of the flyby and begin retrieving the valuable data.
The Parker Solar Probe is part of a mission to better understand the Sun’s behavior and its influence on the solar system.
With each close pass, the spacecraft brings humanity closer to unlocking the mysteries of the star which is the foundation for life on earth.
Earlier this month, Donald Trump announced that he would nominate billionaire entreprnreuer Jared Isaacman to lead the NASA agency.
“I was born after the Moon landings; my children were born after the final space shuttle launch. With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this: We will never again lose our ability to journey to the stars and never settle for second place,” he wrote on X at the time.
“We will inspire children, yours and mine, to look up and dream of what is possible. Americans will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.”
I am honored to receive President Trump’s @realDonaldTrump nomination to serve as the next Administrator of NASA. Having been fortunate to see our amazing planet from space, I am passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history.
On my last mission…
— Jared Isaacman (@rookisaacman) December 4, 2024
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