NASA Mission Makes Record-Breaking Approach to the Sun, Coming Within 3.8 Million Miles of Its Surface

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history with a record-breaking closest approach to the Sun on December 24, 2024. The US space agency confirmed the achievement on December 27.

Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe was designed to "touch" the Sun. Over the years, it has gradually moved closer to the Sun, using Venus flybys to adjust its orbit. On December 24, the spacecraft flew into the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, coming within a mere 3.8 million miles of the solar surface—marking the closest any human-made object has ever been to a star.

Due to the probe’s proximity to the Sun, it temporarily lost contact with Earth. Communication was re-established on December 27 after a seven-day silence, confirming the spacecraft’s safety. NASA announced, "Parker has resumed communication with Earth, confirming it's healthy after soaring just 3.8 million miles from the solar surface."

The spacecraft, traveling at a speed of approximately 430,000 mph (690,000 kph), endured extreme conditions, with temperatures reaching up to 1,800°F (982°C). This makes it the fastest and closest solar flyby in history.

Parker Solar Probe is expected to send detailed telemetry data about its status on January 1.

This record-breaking mission will provide unprecedented insights into the Sun’s mysteries. By getting closer than ever before, Parker is helping scientists study the Sun's outer atmosphere, including the origins of solar wind and the acceleration of energetic particles to near light speed. This research is vital for protecting Earth’s technology and supporting future space exploration.