History! NASA Probe enters Sun atmosphere for the first time

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has entered the Sun's upper atmosphere known as the corona for the first time in history. All details here.

NASA's Parker is uncovering scientific breakthroughs that other spacecraft couldn't observe because they were too far. (NASA)

NASA reached the Solar atmosphere for the first time! And that's a major milestone. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Parker Solar Probe has entered the Sun's upper atmosphere known as the corona. It also samples the particles and magnetic fields there. As the landing on the moon for the first time allowed scientists to understand the formation of the moon, touching the atmosphere of the Sun will help scientists discover critical information such as its formation and function about our closest star and its overall influence on the solar system.

"Parker Solar Probe 'touching the Sun' is a monumental moment for solar science and a truly remarkable feat… the milestone provide us with deeper insights into our Sun's evolution and it's impacts on our solar system," Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA said.

What does this milestone mean to us?

This is the first time that a spacecraft has reached this close to the Sun. Parker is uncovering scientific breakthroughs that other spacecraft couldn't observe because they were too far away, such as from within the solar wind, which is the flow of particles from the Sun that may influence us on Earth. In 2019, Parker discovered that magnetic zig-zag structures in the solar wind, known as switchbacks, are in abundance near the Sun. But still, it remained a mystery as to how and where they formed. Parker Solar Probe has now travelled near enough to identify one spot where they originates, the solar surface, after halving the distance to the Sun since then.

How does the Parker Probe handle so much heat?

This is a common question for most people. As Parker Solar Probe works under in a hazardous region of intense heat and solar radiation, which will fly close enough to the Sun to observe the solar wind speed going from the subsonic to supersonic and will fly to the birthplace of the Sun of the highest energy solar particles, it is protected from the extreme heat of the Sun by a 4.5-inches thick carbon-composite shield which must survive temperatures of approximately 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit outside the spaceship (1,377 C).

About Parker Solar Probe

Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to investigate the Sun's mysteries. Parker Solar Probe uses Venus' gravity during seven flybys over almost seven years to progressively get its orbit closer to the Sun in order to unravel the mysteries of the Sun's atmosphere. The spacecraft travels at a massive speed of over 500,000kmph, allowing for quick entry and exit to prevent heat damage.