NASA's Parker Solar Probe is set to make history on December 24, 2024, with its record flyby of the Sun, getting closer than any spacecraft ever has before.
The probe will fly within just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the Sun’s surface, entering the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, where temperatures soar much higher than those of the solar surface.
This landmark event, scheduled for 6:53 a.m. EST, will be the first of its final three closest approaches to the sun. Nick Pinkine, the Parker Solar Probe mission operations manager at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), stated, “No human-made object has ever passed this close to a star. Parker will truly be returning data from uncharted territory.”
The Parker Solar Probe, named after astrophysicist Eugene Newman Parker, launched in 2018 and is on a mission to explore the inner workings of the Sun to gather insights on its behavior, particularly the mysteries surrounding its hot corona. This phenomenon has puzzled scientists for decades as the corona, with temperatures reaching between 1 to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit (500,000 to 1,000,000 degrees Celsius), is significantly hotter than the Sun's surface, which averages around 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius).
The data collected during this flyby will contribute to answering questions about solar winds and magnetic fields, which shape space weather and can directly affect Earth’s atmosphere and technology.
Parker has already completed 21 close approaches since its launch, with its last close approach occurring on September 30, 2024. Each encounter brings it closer to the Sun, aided by gravity assists from Venus. The most recent maneuvers allowed Parker to finalize its orbital configuration for this significant flyby.
The spacecraft travels at staggering speeds of 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour), earning it the title of the fastest man-made object. The probe’s heat shield, made of advanced carbon-composite materials, is perfectly engineered to withstand extreme temperatures. At its closest approach, the Parker Solar Probe will encounter temperatures of around 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (980 degrees Celsius). The shield, which is 4.5 inches (11 centimeters) thick and 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide, can tolerate temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,377 degrees Celsius), ensuring the equipment inside remains at near-room temperature.
While the closest approach occurs, the probe will operate autonomously, conducting its flyby without direct communication with mission operators. NASA anticipates receiving the first health confirmation transmission on December 27, 2024. At this point, mission controllers will verify the spacecraft's operational status post-flyby and await the initial scientific data expected by January 2025.
The Parker Solar Probe is set to revolutionize our comprehension of solar phenomena and space weather, with significant implications for satellite communications, electrical grids, and even climatic conditions on Earth. Early data is expected to provide insights on solar flares and coronal mass ejections, phenomena known to disrupt technology on Earth. A total of 24 close encounters are planned, with future flybys expected to help deepen our scientific endeavors.
This December 24 flyby marks not just another milestone for the mission but could also be pivotal for solar science. Parker aims to shed light on the powerful activities of our solar system’s star and unravel the enigma surrounding the Sun’s temperature discrepancies.
NASA has stated they will provide regular updates throughout the flyby process, sharing findings and health updates on their @NASASun social media channels. This level of transparency highlights the excitement and significance of the Parker Solar Probe mission.
Through its groundbreaking exploration, the Parker Solar Probe is poised to give humanity unprecedented knowledge about the Sun, the very star at the center of our solar system, paving the way for future scientific advancements.
