Parker Solar Probe captures solar wind near the Sun

The Parker Solar Probe flew within 6.1 million kilometers of the Sun, capturing images of the solar wind with the WISPR instrument.

Parker Solar Probe Captures Solar Wind Near the Sun

NASA's Parker Solar Probe edged to 6.1 million kilometers above the Sun's surface, the closest approach of its mission. The WISPR instrument captured images showing the solar wind streaming from the corona as the heat shield protected the payload from temperatures above 1,000 degrees Celsius. Inside, the craft maintains a comfortable temperature of about 29°C for its gear, while the exterior endures extreme heat.

The mission studies how particles and magnetic fields escape the Sun, a puzzle that includes both fast and slow solar wind components. Officials say the data will improve space weather forecasts to protect astronauts and technology. The program is scheduled to continue with more close passes, though its long-term fate could hinge on fuel and funding decisions.

The close approach shows how engineering and curiosity ride together. Pushing into extreme heat tests the limits of the instruments, but the payoff is clearer forecasts for space weather and safer exploration.

Yet the article hints at a political layer that can shape science. Funding shifts or policy changes can slow or stop a high-profile mission, underlining the vulnerability of long-term discovery to political cycles.

Highlights

Science presses onward, even when politics looms over the horizon.