NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is making history by taking humanity closer to the Sun than ever before. Since its launch in August 2018, this groundbreaking spacecraft has been gathering crucial data, helping scientists unlock some of the biggest mysteries about our star. From understanding the solar wind to detecting unexpected magnetic switchbacks, the probe is revolutionizing our knowledge of how the Sun operates and influences the entire solar system.

The Parker Solar Probe was built to withstand the extreme heat and radiation of the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona. Equipped with an advanced Thermal Protection System (TPS), it can survive temperatures as high as 2,500°F (1,370°C) while keeping its instruments cool and fully functional. Unlike previous space missions that observed the Sun from a distance, Parker is actually diving into its atmosphere, collecting data from inside this turbulent region. By using a series of Venus flybys to gradually adjust its orbit, the spacecraft is inching closer and closer to the Sun with each pass.

The Parker Solar Probe mission – breaking records

On December 24, 2024, the Parker Solar Probe set a new record by coming within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) of the Sun’s surface. To put that into perspective, Mercury—the closest planet to the Sun—usually orbits about 36 million miles (58 million km) away. During this historic approach, Parker also became the fastest human-made object ever, reaching speeds of 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 km/h). That’s fast enough to travel from New York to Tokyo in under a minute!

NASA officials were thrilled with this milestone, calling it a major achievement. Nicola Fox, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, described the mission as a “remarkable feat of engineering and scientific curiosity”, emphasizing that the data Parker is sending back is “revolutionizing our understanding of the Sun.”

What has Parker discovered so far?

Since its launch, the Parker Solar Probe has made several groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping our understanding of the Sun. Here are some of the most important findings so far:

Mysterious magnetic “switchbacks”: One of the most surprising discoveries has been magnetic switchbacks—sudden reversals in the Sun’s magnetic field. Scientists weren’t expecting to see such rapid fluctuations, and these findings suggest that the solar wind—the stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun—is much more dynamic and complex than previously thought. Understanding these switchbacks could help predict space weather events that impact Earth, satellites, and even astronauts.

A dust-free zone near the Sun: Observations from Parker have confirmed the existence of a dust-free zone around the Sun. This region, where cosmic dust is vaporized by intense heat, was predicted by scientists decades ago but has never been directly observed until now. This discovery helps researchers understand how the Sun’s intense radiation interacts with interstellar material, influencing the formation of planetary systems.

Insights into the solar wind’s origins: Before Parker, scientists had theories about how the solar wind—the charged particles constantly flowing from the Sun—was accelerated, but they lacked direct evidence. Now, Parker has confirmed that this process happens much closer to the Sun’s surface than previously thought. This discovery is crucial for understanding how these powerful streams of particles travel across the solar system and affect space weather conditions on Earth and beyond.

What’s next for the Parker Solar Probe?

The mission is far from over. Over the next few years, Parker will continue to make even closer flybys, bringing it just 3.7 million miles (5.9 million km) from the Sun’s surface by 2025. Scientists expect even more groundbreaking discoveries as the probe ventures deeper into the Sun’s corona.

These findings will not only help us understand our own solar system but could also provide insights into other stars and their behaviour. By studying the Sun up close, scientists hope to improve space weather forecasts, which can help protect satellites, power grids, and astronauts on future missions to the Moon and Mars. The Parker Solar Probe is doing something that seemed impossible just a few decades ago. By getting closer to the Sun than any other spacecraft in history, we are allowing ourselves to see our star in ways we never have before. As NASA continues to analyse the data, one thing is clear: the Parker Solar Probe isn’t just exploring the Sun—it’s changing the way we understand the universe.