By: Nick Gambino
NASA once again proved they are in control of the fastest flying man-made object. The space agency’s Parker Solar Probe flew nearly 400,000 mph which is 500 times the speed of sound, matching the record previously set by the same spacecraft back in September 2023.
The Parker Solar Probe is on a historical mission to rocket through the corona of the Sun which is its outermost atmosphere. Launched in 2018, this marked the first time a man-made object accomplished or even attempted the feat. The speed record that was shattered last year was matched on June 29th as it marked its 20th close approach to the Sun, getting within 4.51 million miles of our star’s surface.
Coming in hot! ☀️ 🛰️
Parker Solar Probe just made its 20th close approach to the Sun, moving at a whopping 394,736 miles per hour and passing about 4.51 million miles from our star!
What’s next for Parker? Read more here: https://t.co/Bl9VICgOUw pic.twitter.com/KHfxhbQrdi
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) July 3, 2024
The Parker Solar Probe cost $1.5 billion to design and build, but that’s nothing compared to the invaluable data being gathered. An investigation into the Sun and its behaviors are key to understanding its effect on life here on Earth. By getting direct access to the corona we can learn so much about this glowing solar orb while also increasing our understanding of stars in other solar systems.
The probe is expected to make this journey around the sun one more time before the end of 2024. This will happen on September 30th, just a year after it smashed the speed record. It will travel at about the same speed and distance during that trip around the Sun.
While clocking in at 394,736 mph is impressive, the NASA spacecraft is expected to go even faster in three planned approaches that will bring Parker even closer to the surface. It will get within 3.8 million miles and will record speeds of about 430,000 mph. The first of those close approaches will occur on November 6th.
