NASA’s Parker Solar Probe continues to break its own speed records as it journeys closer to the sun. Since its launch in 2018, the spacecraft has become the fastest human-made object ever built, and by 2024 it is expected to reach a staggering speed of 430,000 miles per hour. To put this into perspective, one could travel from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., in just 20 seconds at this velocity. The probe recently reached a speed of 394,736 mph, impressing scientists with its incredible pace.
Equipped with a thick heat shield, the Parker Solar Probe has been making passes through the sun’s outer atmosphere, known as its corona. This mission is the first to reach the corona, and the data collected will provide valuable insights into how solar eruptions from the sun’s surface impact Earth. It will also help answer questions about the solar wind, a continuous stream of particles and radiation emitted by the sun. Scientists are excitedly referring to this mission as “opening a new book that we’ve never read before.”
The extraordinary speed of the Parker Solar Probe is a natural consequence of its orbit around the massive and gravitationally powerful sun. Each time the spacecraft swings by the sun, it gains significant momentum. Additionally, strategic flybys of Venus provide “gravity assists” that propel the probe closer to the sun, resulting in even greater speed. Currently on its 17th orbit, the spacecraft has already boosted its speed by over 240,000 mph since 2018. This incredible pace allows the probe to collect a wealth of information about the solar environment every three months.
Scientists are particularly interested in unraveling the mysteries of space weather, such as why the solar wind accelerates after leaving the sun, why the corona is much hotter than the sun’s surface, and how different types of solar explosions impact Earth. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), in particular, pose a threat to power grids and communication networks. The data collected by the Parker Solar Probe’s instruments will enable better forecasting of when and where a potent CME may hit. This information is crucial for utilities to temporarily shut off power and avoid potential damage caused by power surges.
Despite the intense heat and radiation to which it is exposed, the Parker Solar Probe remains in excellent condition thanks to its 4.5-inch-thick carbon heat shield. This shield, heated up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit, protects the instruments, allowing them to work at room temperature just a few feet behind the shield.
The Parker Solar Probe is a groundbreaking mission that promises to revolutionize our understanding of the sun and its impact on Earth. The data collected from this mission will significantly advance our ability to forecast space weather and protect vital infrastructure from the damaging effects of solar eruptions.