“Scorched by the Sun: Parker Solar Probe’s Fiery Quest for Secrets of the Solar System”

**NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Survives Closest Ever Flyby of the Sun**

In a groundbreaking achievement, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its closest ever flyby of the sun, collecting unprecedented data on the star’s corona. The spacecraft flew just 3.8 million miles from the sun’s surface, a distance that is significantly closer than any previous spacecraft. To put this in perspective, NASA explains that if the solar system were scaled down to the size of a football field, the sun would be just four yards from the end zone, and the Parker Solar Probe would be situated mere inches away.

On Friday, NASA announced that the spacecraft had transmitted a signal confirming its safe passage through the sun’s corona, the outer atmosphere of the sun. The probe’s orbit takes it closest to the sun approximately every three months, and it will make two more close flybys in 2025 on March 22 and June 19.

The Parker Solar Probe was designed to explore the sun’s corona, which is a region of the sun’s atmosphere that is estimated to be about 2 million degrees Fahrenheit hotter than the surface. By collecting data from this region, scientists can gain a better understanding of the sun’s behavior and the physics that govern its behavior.

“This is an amazing accomplishment, and the data that will come down from the spacecraft will be fresh information about a place that we, as humanity, have never been,” said Joe Westlake, director of the Heliophysics Division at NASA Headquarters. “It’s a new frontier in our understanding of the sun and its effects on the solar system.”

The data collected by the Parker Solar Probe will provide scientists with a wealth of new information about the sun’s corona, including its temperature, density, and composition. This data will help researchers better understand the sun’s impact on the solar system, including the effect of solar winds and coronal mass ejections on the Earth’s magnetic field.

The Parker Solar Probe is equipped with a range of instruments designed to collect data on the sun’s corona, including a solar wind sensor, a magnetometer, and a radiometer. The spacecraft is also equipped with a heat shield to protect it from the intense temperatures emanating from the sun.

The Parker Solar Probe’s close approach to the sun was a critical part of its mission, and the success of the flyby marks an important milestone in the spacecraft’s five-year mission. The probe will continue to collect data and conduct close approaches to the sun for the next several years, providing scientists with valuable insights into the sun’s behavior and the physics that govern its behavior.

**FAQs**

**Q: What is the Parker Solar Probe?**
A: The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA spacecraft designed to explore the sun’s corona and collect data on the star’s behavior.

**Q: What is the closest the Parker Solar Probe has flown to the sun?**
A: The probe has flown just 3.8 million miles from the sun’s surface, the closest any spacecraft has ever flown to the sun.

**Q: What data will the Parker Solar Probe collect during its mission?**
A: The spacecraft is equipped with a range of instruments to collect data on the sun’s corona, including temperature, density, and composition.

**Q: How often does the Parker Solar Probe fly close to the sun?**
A: The probe flies closest to the sun approximately every three months.

**Conclusion**

The Parker Solar Probe’s close approach to the sun marks an exciting milestone in the spacecraft’s five-year mission. The data collected during this flyby will provide scientists with a wealth of new information about the sun’s behavior and the physics that govern its behavior. As the probe continues to conduct close approaches to the sun, it will continue to provide valuable insights into the sun’s behavior and its impact on the solar system.