NASA Sets Record-Breaking Distance Approaching the Sun

By Raul A

On August 12th, 2018, NASA launched its mission to “Touch the Sun.” This involved sending a Spacecraft into space to collect data on the Sun, Scientists being eager to figure out why the Sun’s corona is hotter than the Sun itself. The project is called The Parker Solar Probe.

Helene Winters, the project manager of the Parker Solar Probe, states that the spacecraft is “changing the field of heliophysics.” Heliophysics is essentially the study of the Sun and how it affects other planets, mainly Earth. Understanding how the Sun’s activity can affect our planet’s habitability. 

Scientists are doing this also due to the Sun’s recent cycle resetting, calling it “a chance to witness most of a solar cycle and the transitions between its highs and lows.” They want to learn more about Solar Storms, and especially more to compare our star to the endless amount of other stars out there and how other planets “may or may not be like our own planets in our solar system.”

The spacecraft flew at 430,000 miles per hour, which would be an hour flight to the moon. This also ended up making the Solar Probe the “fastest human-made object in history” according to the NASA agency. Two additional spacecraft sent out are expected to return by March 22nd and June 19th of this year.