NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for a historic moment in space exploration as it is scheduled to pass the Sun on Christmas Eve this year. Launched on August 12, 2018, the probe is set to fly past the Sun at a remarkable speed of 195 km/s or 435,000 mph on December 24, 2024.
Described as a mission to “touch the Sun” by NASA, the Parker Solar Probe aims to achieve the first-ever sampling of a star’s atmosphere. Scientist Nour Raouafi, involved in the project, highlighted the significance of this achievement, stating, “We are basically almost landing on a star. This will be a monumental achievement for all humanity, equivalent to the Moon landing of 1969.”
The primary objective of the mission is to deepen our understanding of the Sun. The probe is designed to orbit closer to the Sun’s surface than any spacecraft before, venturing within Mercury’s orbit. NASA explains that the Parker Solar Probe collects measurements and images to aid scientists in comprehending the origin and evolution of solar wind.
Additionally, the mission contributes crucial insights for forecasting changes in the space environment that impact life and technology on Earth. The probe is expected to face extreme heat and radiation during its journey, flying “more than seven times closer to the Sun than any spacecraft.”
Dr. Nicky Fox, NASA’s head of science, expressed excitement about the mission, stating, “We don’t know what we’ll find, but we’ll be looking for waves in the solar wind associated with the heating. I suspect we’ll sense lots of different types of waves, which would point to a mix of processes that people have been arguing over for years.”
Reference: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-04007-0
