NASA's Parker Solar Probe Survives Record-Breaking Close Encounter With the Sun

The spacecraft endured extreme heat and radiation during its closest-ever pass at 3.8 million miles from the solar surface, providing unprecedented scientific opportunities.

The Parker Solar Probe successfully completed its closest-ever approach to the sun on December 24, passing within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface at a record speed of 430,000 miles per hour.
NASA confirmed the probe's safety and operational status after receiving a beacon signal on December 26, following a planned communication blackout during the flyby.
The spacecraft, launched in 2018, is equipped with a heat shield capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit while keeping its instruments safe.
Scientists aim to use data from the mission to solve key mysteries about the sun, including the heating of its corona, the origin of solar wind, and the acceleration of energetic particles.
Detailed telemetry data from this historic encounter is expected to arrive on January 1, 2025, with further close approaches planned for March and June 2025.