Which spacecraft made the closest flyby of the Sun?
Quick Answer
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe holds the record for the closest approach to the Sun. During later perihelia it got within roughly 6.1 million km of the solar surface, faster than any previous spacecraft.
The Full Story
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe set the record for the closest approach to the Sun, coming to within about 6.1 million kilometers of the solar surface during its deepest passes. Launched in 2018, it uses repeated Venus flybys to shrink its orbit and dive closer to the Sun. The probe also became the fastest human-made object ever, reaching speeds of about 192 km/s, or roughly 430,000 mph, near perihelion. Its mission is to study the solar corona and the solar wind from inside the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"A spacecraft that dives straight into the Sun’s neighborhood."
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