NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is about to make another close trip near the sun. This spacecraft has a special heat shield that can handle temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius).
Breaking Records in Space
In December, Parker came within just 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the sun. This is closer than any other spacecraft in history.
Another Close Encounter is Coming
NASA plans for the probe to try another close pass on Saturday. However, the mission team will only hear from Parker on Tuesday because the spacecraft will be out of communication range during the flyby.
The Fastest Spacecraft Ever
Parker is also the fastest spacecraft ever made. At its closest point to the sun, it will reach speeds of 430,000 miles per hour (690,000 kilometers per hour).
Why Scientists Are Excited
The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018. It has already flown through the sun’s corona, which is the sun’s hot outer atmosphere. Scientists hope to use the probe’s data to answer two big questions:
- Why is the sun’s outer atmosphere hundreds of times hotter than its surface?
- What causes the solar wind, a fast stream of charged particles coming from the sun?
Why This Matters
The answers could help us better understand space weather. Space weather can affect satellites, power systems, and communication on Earth.
More About the Parker Mission
This mission shows how far human technology has come. Each close flyby brings scientists closer to solving some of the biggest solar mysteries.
