May 2, 2024

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Shatters Records: The Closest & Fastest Sun Flyby Ever

On September 27, 2023, NASAs Parker Solar Probe made its 17th close technique to the Sun, breaking its own record by coming within 4.51 million miles of the solar surface area. Helped by a gravity-aided flyby of Venus, the probe achieved a speed of 394,736 miles per hour, marking another record. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Brian Monroe

Parker Solar Probes 17th orbit consisted of a perihelion that brought the spacecraft within 4.51 million miles of the Sun. Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben
The spacecraft entered the encounter in excellent health, with all systems operating typically. Parker Solar Probe is set up to inspect back in with objective operators at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland– where the spacecraft was likewise created and developed– by sending a stream of telemetry (status data) on October 1.
The spacecraft will send science information from the encounter– mostly covering the residential or commercial properties, structure, and habits of the solar wind as it launches off the Sun– back to Earth from October 4– 19.
Artists principle of NASAs Parker Solar Probe spacecraft flying through the Suns corona to trace how energy and heat move through the stars environment. Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL
Launched in 2018, NASAs Parker Solar Probe is on an unrivaled journey to study the Suns external atmosphere. Developed to brave severe heat and radiation, the probe will come within 3.83 million miles of the Suns surface, closer than any previous spacecraft.
Over seven years and 24 orbits, with the help of Venus for gravitational helps, the probe will examine the Suns corona, the solar wind, and solar energetic particles. Its findings intend to enhance our understanding of solar phenomena and their impacts in the world.

On September 27, 2023, NASAs Parker Solar Probe made its 17th close technique to the Sun, breaking its own record by coming within 4.51 million miles of the solar surface. Assisted by a gravity-aided flyby of Venus, the probe attained a speed of 394,736 mph, marking another record. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Brian Monroe
NASAs Parker Solar Probe broke its own record by approaching within 4.51 million miles of the Sun on September 27, 2023, likewise achieving a record speed throughout its approach.
NASAs Parker Solar Probe completed its 17th close approach to the Sun on September 27, 2023, breaking its own distance record by skimming simply 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface.
Establish by a gravity-assist flyby of Venus on August 21, the close approach (called perihelion) happened at 7:28 p.m. EDT, with Parker Solar Probe moving 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers per hour) around the Sun– another record. The turning point likewise marked the midway point in the objectives 17th solar encounter, which started September 22 and continues through October 3.