According to the news on NASA’s website, a spacecraft has come so close to the Sun for the first time in history, with the Parker Solar Probe flying through the corona, also known as the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
Having studied the Sun more closely than any man-made instrument to date, the Parker Solar Probe sampled particles and magnetic fields in the Sun’s atmosphere.
Seen as a new threshold for solar science, this step is expected to help scientists uncover critical information on the solar system.
A HISTORICAL TURNING POINT
Thomas Zurbuchen, who works in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, stated that the Parker Solar Probe’s “touching the Sun” is a turning point for solar science, “This milestone only tells us about the evolution of our Sun and our solar system. “Not only does it provide deeper insight into its effects on our own star, but everything we learn about our own star teaches us more about the stars in the rest of the universe.” said.
24 RETURNS IN 7 YEARS
The Parker Solar Probe was launched three years ago, performing one of the most important missions ever undertaken by NASA.
The spacecraft, whose part facing the Sun is exposed to a temperature of 1370 degrees in orbit, is planned to circle the Sun 24 times over 7 years.
The Parker Solar Probe, whose missions include trying to unravel the mystery of the acceleration of the solar wind, the constant outflow of matter from the star, and the very high temperature in the corona, also aims to help understand the mechanism behind the acceleration of the Sun’s active particles.
AA