A Nasa spacecraft has survived man’s closest contact with the sun in history.
Nasa back on earth received a signal from the Parker Solar Probe on Christmas Eve after several days of silence.
It reported safely as it passed 3.8 million miles (6.1 million km) close to the sun’s surface. It proceeded into the sun’s outer atmosphere, facing hellish temperature and terrifying radiation.
The spacecraft endured temperatures of up to 1,800F (980C), says Nasa website.
Earth below was nervous.
“This close-up study of the Sun allows Parker Solar Probe to take measurements that help scientists better understand how material in this region gets heated to millions of degrees, trace the origin of the solar wind (a continuous flow of material escaping the Sun), and discover how energetic particles are accelerated to near light speed,” explained Nasa.
Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018 and has since orbited the sun 21 times — but never this close. The thickly shielded contraption did the job in less than 30 seconds — blitzing the distance from London to New York.
At the end of November, India made a significant attempt to get close to the sun.
