NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is gearing up for its second close encounter with the sun. This mission is part of a series of three flybys that will get us up close and personal with our star’s fiery atmosphere.
The Parker Solar Probe made its first record-setting pass in December, zooming within 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the sun. It’s a remarkable feat, reaching a distance that no spacecraft has ventured before. As the probe attempts its second flyby this Saturday, the team won’t be able to communicate with it until Tuesday afternoon, since it will be out of contact during the journey.
This spacecraft isn’t just any ordinary probe. It’s the fastest human-made object, hitting speeds of about 430,000 mph (690,000 kph) as it approaches the sun. Since its launch in 2018, Parker has already flown through the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.
Experts believe this mission is crucial for understanding some big mysteries. Why is the corona so much hotter than the sun’s surface? What causes the solar wind, the stream of charged particles that blasts away from the sun? The data gathered could illuminate these questions and help improve our predictions of space weather, which affects satellites and telecommunications on Earth.
Recent statistics highlight the relevance of such studies. According to a 2022 survey by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 82% of respondents in the U.S. felt that understanding space weather was important for technological advancements and disaster preparedness.
So, as Parker dives into the sun’s sizzling atmosphere once again, we not only watch for fascinating new discoveries but also reflect on how our understanding of space continues to evolve. You can follow the progress of the Parker Solar Probe and learn more here.
Check out this related article: Groundbreaking Research Reveals ‘Death Star’ Cosmic Pinwheel That May Help Protect Earth from Gamma-Ray Bursts
Source linkSpace exploration, Spacecraft, Science, Aerospace and defense industry, Aerospace technology, Article, 120031179
