NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is poised to make history this Christmas Eve, embarking on a daring journey closer to the Sun than any human-made object has ever ventured.
This unprecedented mission aims to unravel some of the most enduring mysteries about our star while achieving extraordinary milestones in space exploration.
On December 24, at 6:53 a.m. EST (11:53 UTC), the probe will approach within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the Sun’s surface, traveling at a mind-boggling speed of 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h). This will mark the 22nd perihelion, or close flyby, in Parker’s mission.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe was designed to withstand extreme conditions while collecting data from the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. This environment is critical for understanding fundamental solar phenomena, such as why the corona is vastly hotter than the Sun’s surface and how solar wind is generated.
“This is one example of NASA’s bold missions, doing something that no one else has ever done before to answer longstanding questions about our universe,” said Arik Posner, Parker Solar Probe program scientist at NASA.
Since its launch, Parker has consistently broken records for solar proximity and speed, even becoming the first spacecraft to enter the Sun’s corona in 2021. The probe leverages Venus’s gravity during its orbits to inch closer to the Sun, pushing the boundaries of spacecraft endurance and capability.
Astrophysicist Nour Raouafi, project scientist for the mission, likened this achievement to humanity’s most iconic space milestones.
“This will be a monumental achievement for all humanity. This is equivalent to the Moon landing of 1969,” he remarked.
The data Parker collects could help scientists solve some of the Sun’s greatest mysteries, such as the mechanisms behind solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena influence space weather, which can disrupt communications, navigation systems, and even power grids on Earth.
During its upcoming approach, the probe will operate autonomously, as the intense solar radiation disrupts communication. NASA expects to receive a beacon tone on December 27, confirming the spacecraft’s status after the encounter.
The Parker Solar Probe will continue its close approaches through 2025, performing four more perihelions before its mission concludes. Eventually, when the spacecraft exhausts its fuel, it will succumb to the Sun’s gravity, its heat shield likely vaporizing in the intense solar environment.
Even in its ultimate demise, the probe will leave an indelible mark on humanity’s understanding of the Sun and other stars.
“We are using the Sun as a laboratory to study other worlds out there,” Raouafi said.
He emphasized the mission’s broad implications for astrophysics.
As Parker inches closer to the Sun, scientists anticipate groundbreaking discoveries that will reshape our understanding of the solar system and beyond. For now, the probe’s daring dive on Christmas Eve is a testament to human ingenuity and the spirit of exploration.
“This mission is more than a dream,” said Raouafi. “We are dreaming with our open eyes.”
Science Alert, Space.com, and Axios contributed to this report.
