NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has achieved a significant milestone by making its closest approach to the sun, as confirmed by the space agency on Friday.
Earlier this week, the spacecraft managed to come within an astonishing 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the intense star, setting a new record. NASA received a positive confirmation from Parker late Thursday, indicating that the probe successfully navigated this critical journey.

Since its launch in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has been dedicated to studying the sun from a proximity previously thought impossible, even traversing its corona, the outer atmosphere. After completing this close pass, the spacecraft is expected to maintain its orbit around the sun at this remarkable distance at least until September.

The Parker Solar Probe holds the title of the fastest man-made object, reaching speeds of 430,000 miles per hour (690,000 kilometers per hour) during its closest approach. It is equipped with a specialized heat shield capable of enduring extreme temperatures that can reach up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius).

Research scientists are optimistic that the information gathered from Parker will shed light on the mysteries surrounding the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is incredibly hotter than the sun’s surface, being hundreds of times more so. Furthermore, they aim to uncover the dynamics of solar wind, the high-speed flow of charged particles that are continuously ejected from the sun.