NASA’s spacecraft is on a mission to explore the sun more closely than any prior instruments have ever done.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has been designed to study the sun up close and has already ventured into its corona, the sun’s outer atmosphere that is visible during a total solar eclipse.

The next critical step is approaching the sun at an unprecedented distance.
On Tuesday, the Parker Solar Probe is set to travel through the scorching solar atmosphere, reaching within an astounding 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the sun’s surface—a record in space exploration.
Joe Westlake from NASA described this proximity by noting that if the sun and Earth were positioned at either end of a football field, the probe would be just four yards away from the sun.

However, mission control will not receive information about the probe’s experience until days after the flyby, as the spacecraft will temporarily enter a communication blackout.
The Parker Solar Probe will get more than seven times closer to the sun than any previous mission and is expected to reach speeds of 430,000 mph (690,000 kph) during its closest approach.
It holds the record for the fastest spacecraft ever created and is equipped with a robust heat shield designed to endure extremely high temperatures, reaching up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,371 degrees Celsius).

The spacecraft will maintain its orbit around the sun at this close distance until at least September.
Scientists are eager to unravel mysteries surrounding the sun, particularly why the corona is significantly hotter than the surface and what drives the solar wind, which consists of a continuous stream of charged particles expelled from the sun.

While the sun’s radiant energy is essential for life on Earth, intense solar storms have the potential to disrupt radio transmissions and affect electricity operations.
Currently, the sun is in the peak phase of its 11-year solar cycle, which has been generating vibrant auroras in areas where they are not typically observed.

“It is both our nearest, friendliest neighbor,” explained Westlake, “but it can also display unpredictable and aggressive behaviors.”