Midpoint of Parker Solar Probe's 20th solar encounter, with one more close approach this year and final approach in December
NASA's Parker Solar Probe survives 20th close approach to the sun on June 30, 2024
Parker Solar Probe travels at speed of 394,736 miles per hour around the sun during latest approach
Provides crucial data on solar wind and space weather forecasting capabilities
Spacecraft comes within 4.51 million miles of solar surface
NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft has made another groundbreaking achievement by surviving its 20th close approach to the sun, coming within 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) of the solar surface on June 30, 2024.
Launched in August 2018 and designed to study the outer corona of the sun and its impact on the solar system, Parker Solar Probe has already broken records by becoming the first spacecraft to fly through a coronal mass ejection from the sun last September. During this latest approach, it traveled at a speed of 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers per hour) around the sun.
The Parker Solar Probe's mission is significant because it provides crucial data on solar wind and its effects on space weather. The information gathered from this mission will help scientists improve their understanding of solar dynamics and forecasting capabilities.
This close approach marked the midpoint of Parker Solar Probe's 20th solar encounter, which began on June 25 and ends on July 5. Following this event, the spacecraft will make one more close approach to the sun this year, on September 30. In December, it will come within just 3.8 million miles of the solar surface and move at about 430,000 miles per hour during its final approach.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe has already provided valuable insights into the sun's corona and solar wind. Its findings have contributed to a better understanding of space weather phenomena such as auroras and geomagnetic storms. The data collected from this mission will continue to shape our knowledge of the sun and its role in our solar system.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe spacecraft survived its latest close flyby of the sun, getting to within 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) of the solar surface.
The Parker Solar Probe is studying the outer corona of the sun to understand the solar wind and its impact on the solar system.
Last September, it became the first spacecraft ever to fly through a coronal mass ejection from the sun.
NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed its 20th close approach to the sun on June 30, 2024.
The spacecraft came about 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface during this approach.
Parker Solar Probe moved at a speed of 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers per hour) around the sun.
This marked the midpoint of Parker Solar Probe’s 20th solar encounter, which began on June 25 and ends on July 5.
Parker Solar Probe will make one more close approach to the sun this year, on Sept. 30.
During its final approach in December, the spacecraft will come within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface and move at about 430,000 miles per hour.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its 20th close approach to the Sun, reaching a distance of approximately 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface.
The spacecraft traveled at an astonishing speed of 394,736 miles per hour (635,266 kilometers per hour) around the Sun during this approach.
Following the close approach, the spacecraft successfully communicated with mission operators at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland.
The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled to make another close approach at the same distance and speed on September 30.
On December 24, following a final Venus gravity assist-flyby on November 6, the probe will approach the Sun at a record-breaking distance of just 3.8 million miles.
These close approaches are critical for gathering unprecedented data on the Sun’s corona and solar wind, helping scientists to better understand solar dynamics and improve space weather forecasting.
