NASA’s Parker Solar Probe set two records in its 10th orbit of the sun.
During the close approach, the probe came within 5.3 million miles (8.5 million kilometres) of the solar surface – the closest it has ever been.
It was also an unprecedented flyby speed record, as the probe moved at 364,660 miles/hour (or 586,864 kilometers/hour).
For comparison, that would get the probe from Earth to the Moon in under an hour – a journey that would usually take around three days!

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe set two new records in its 10th orbit of the sun. During the closer approach, the probe came within 5.3 million miles (8.5 million kilometres) of the solar surface – the closest it has ever been. It also broke the speed record with 364,660 mph (586.864 kilometers/hour) during its flyby.
This record was made on the probe’s 10th flyby of sun, November 21.
Nour Raouafi is the Parker Solar Probe project scientist from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. He said the probe found more dust than was expected near the Sun.
He explained that the most exciting thing about it is how much better our understanding of the innermost areas of our heliosphere has been. This gives us an insight into an environment which was previously a complete mystery.
Although the Parker Solar Probe does not have a dust detector built in, plasma clouds are formed when dust grains strike the spacecraft.
These unique electric charges are produced by these clouds, and they can be picked up by multiple sensors of the probe’s “FIELDS” instrument. This instrument is used to measure magnetic and electrical fields close to the Sun.
Although dust can be a danger to the probe’s safety, it does have several protection mechanisms to withstand it.
Jim Kinnison is a Parker Solar Probe mission system engineer. He explained that components and materials were designed to withstand hypervelocity dust impact and other effects.

In 2018, the Parker Solar Probe was launched. It is currently on a mission (artist’s image) to increase our knowledge of the sun.
“We simulated the environment and tested the materials’ reactions to dust particles and then installed fault-tolerant systems onboard that keep Parker Solar Probe safe.
The Parker Solar Probe will move closer to the sun thanks to its improved speed and distance recrods.
NASA stated that Parker Solar Probe would eventually reach 4 million miles (6.25 million km) from the surface of the sun in December 2024 with two additional Venus flybys in August 2023, and November 2024. It will then travel at speeds exceeding 430,000 miles an hour.
In 2018, the Parker Solar Probe was launched. It is currently on a mission that aims to increase our knowledge of the sun.
NASA said that Parker Solar Probe was the first to fly into the Sun’s corona. This combination of imaging and in-situ measurements will revolutionize our understanding and help us understand the origins and evolutions of the solar wind.
“It is also crucial to our ability predict changes in Earth’s orbit environment, which can affect human life and technology.”