Parker Probe’s Closest Approach Unveils Sun’s Secrets

Why in the news?

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history by coming within 6.1 million km of the Sun, enduring extreme temperatures and gathering unprecedented data to address mysteries about the Sun’s corona and solar winds.

Parker Probe's Closest Approach Unveils Sun's Secrets

Milestone Achievement:

  • On December 24, 2024, the Parker Solar Probe came within 6.1 million km of the Sun, the closest any human-made object has ever reached.
  • The probe travels at an incredible speed of 692,000 km/h, enduring extreme temperatures up to 1,377°C at its closest approach.
  • To withstand this heat, it is equipped with a cutting-edge 43 cm thick carbon-composite heat shield, ensuring its instruments remain cool, protected from the Sun’s heat.

Scientific Significance

  • As the probe passes through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, it collects data to answer long-standing questions, such as why the Sun’s corona is so hot, with temperatures reaching 1-2 million degrees Celsius.
  • This mission aims to enhance understanding of solar winds, which can disrupt life on Earth by affecting power grids, satellites, and communication systems.
  • Researchers hope that the data from the probe will shed light on the origins of solar winds and contribute to solving fundamental questions about the Sun and its atmosphere.

About the Parker Solar Probe:

  • Launched in 2018 as part of NASA’s “Living With a Star” program.
  • Designed to explore the Sun-Earth system, particularly the Sun’s upper atmosphere, the corona.
  • Aims to help understand solar winds and provide critical data for space weather forecasting.
  • The spacecraft is about the size of a small car, equipped with four instruments to gather data on the Sun.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times