The Parker Solar Probe has ventured closer to the Sun than ever before, entering its outer atmosphere to study the star’s mysteries. On its daring Christmas Eve fly-by, the probe came within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s surface, enduring 1,400°C temperatures and intense radiation.
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Launched in 2018, the spacecraft has completed 21 orbits and travels at 430,000 mph. Its mission: to unlock the secrets of the Sun’s corona and solar wind, phenomena that impact Earth’s weather and technology.
NASA scientists await a signal on December 28 to confirm the probe’s survival, marking another leap in solar exploration.
