WASHINGTON – NASA´s Parker Solar Probe, which launched earlier this year,has set a new record for becoming the closest human-made object to the Sun,the US space agency announced Monday.
“The spacecraft passed the current record of 26.55 million miles (42.73million kilometers) from the Sun´s surface on Oct 29, 2018, at about 1:04pm EDT (1704 GMT),” said a NASA statement.
“The previous record for closest solar approach was set by theGerman-American Helios 2 spacecraft in April 1976.”
The $1.5 billion unmanned spacecraft launched in August, on a strategicmission to protect the Earth by unveiling the mysteries of dangerous solarstorms.
Its goal is make a series of 24 flybys past our scorching star.
Another record is in sight for the Parker Solar Probe.
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The spaceship is “expected to break the record for fastest spacecrafttraveling relative to the Sun on Oct. 29 at about 10:54 pm EDT (Tuesday0254 GMT),” NASA said.
“The current record for heliocentric speed is 153,454 miles (246,960kilometers) per hour, set by Helios 2 in April 1976.”
Parker´s first close encounter with the Sun is scheduled for October 31.
Its final close approach — coming just 3.83 million miles from the Sun´ssurface — is expected in 2024, NASA said. – APP/AFP
