Context : On December 24, the Parker Solar Probe flew closer to the Sun than any spacecraft, reaching a distance of 6.1 million km. It faced temperatures exceeding 930°C, protected by an advanced heat shield.
Relevance : GS 3 (Science)
Scientific Mission
- Launch Date: August 2018, for a seven-year mission.
- Objective:
- Explore the Sun’s corona.
- Improve predictions of space-weather events impacting Earth.
Significance of the Flyby
- Flyby Date and Time: December 24, 5:23 AM IST, with confirmation expected by December 28.
- Despite extreme external temperatures, the spacecraft’s instruments remained cool (~29°C).
Unique Capabilities
- Speed: Travels at 690,000 km/h, fast enough to cover the distance from New Delhi to Chennai in just 10 seconds.
- Orbit Adjustment: Uses Venus flybys to tighten its orbit around the Sun.
Scientific Goals
- Study:
- Origin of solar winds.
- Why the Sun’s corona is hotter than its surface.
- Formation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
Future Plans
- Two additional record-setting close passes are scheduled for:
- March 22, 2025.
- June 19, 2025.
- Continues returning valuable data from previously unexplored regions of the Sun.
Significance for Space Science
- The Parker Solar Probe represents bold scientific exploration, tackling critical questions about the Sun and its influence on the solar system.
- It advances our understanding of solar phenomena and their effects on Earth.
