NASA's Parker spacecraft breaks record with 20th closest flyby of the Sun

NASA's Parker spacecraft breaks record with 20th closest flyby of the Sun

Kyiv  •  UNN

July 7 2024, 11:36 PM  •  21267 views

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its 20th flyby of the Sun, reaching a record distance of 7.26 million kilometers from the solar surface at a record speed of 635.266 kilometers per hour.

 The world's fastest spacecraft has successfully survived a close encounter with the Sun. The Parker probe has successfully completed its 20th flyby around the Sun, SciTechDaily reports, UNN. 

Details

On June 30, the Parker Solar Probe successfully completed its 20th close flyby of the Sun, achieving its own distance record, coming within 7.26 million kilometers of the solar surface.

NASA's fastest spacecraft moved around the Sun at a speed of 635,266 kilometers per hour, again achieving its record.

"Parker will fly around the Sun at the same distance and speed again this year on September 30.

The main goal of the Parker Solar Probe is to study the Sun's corona. Scientists also want to better understand the nature of the solar wind (a stream of charged particles flying out of the Sun) and how it affects the entire solar system.

With more data on this phenomenon, astrophysicists hope to determine where the edge of the solar system is actually located. This information will also help to better predict space weather.

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