ALBAWABA - Exciting news from NASA as the Parker Solar Probe, designed to 'touch the Sun,' gears up for another groundbreaking achievement in December 2024. Reports from BBC confirm that the probe is poised to shatter its own record for the fastest-moving vehicle, reaching its closest proximity to the Sun.
According to sources, the Parker probe will navigate at an impressive speed of approximately 700 kilometers per hour, positioning itself just 6.16 million kilometers away from the Sun's photosphere. This remarkable feat equates to covering the flight distance between New York and London in a mere 7 seconds, solidifying Parker's status as the nearest and fastest human-made object to the Sun.
When Parker reaches its closest point to the Sun, experts anticipate a rise in the temperature of the shields on its outer surface, reaching an astounding 1400 degrees Celsius.
Notably, Nour Raouafi, a scientist involved in the Parker Project, highlights the crucial role of the data collected by Parker in understanding solar winds and radiation, essential for the continuity of lunar missions.
Raouafi describes the upcoming mission as akin to "landing on almost a star," emphasizing its significance as a milestone comparable to humanity's iconic 1969 moon landing.
Parker previously secured its place in history during its 17th close approach to the Sun on September 27, breaking the record for the fastest human-made object by approaching at a distance of 7.26 million kilometers at a speed of 635 kilometers per hour.
Launched back in August 2018, Parker's primary objective is to unravel mysteries surrounding solar winds, magnetic fields, and plasma dynamics, contributing valuable insights to our understanding of the Sun
