A NASA spacecraft will make another close pass of the sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is set for another close pass of the sun. This pass is its second of three planned encounters. The probe aims to study the sun’s corona and solar wind. It will reach speeds of 430,000 mph (ca. 692,017 km/h) during its closest approach.

Here’s a more detailed look:

• Mission: The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, is designed to get closer to the sun than any earlier spacecraft. It aims to understand the sun’s corona and solar wind. It also seeks to discover why the corona is significantly hotter than the sun’s surface.
• Previous Record: The probe made its record-breaking first pass within 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometres) of the sun in December, flying closer than any object sent before.
• Upcoming Flyby: The spacecraft is scheduled to make its second close approach on March 22, 2025. It will attempt to reach the same record-breaking distance and speed as its first pass.

• Speed: During its closest approach, Parker Solar Probe is expected to reach speeds of 430,000 mph (690,000 km/h).
• Communication: Since the flyby happens out of communication range, the mission team won’t hear back from Parker until Tuesday afternoon.
• Future Plans: The Parker Solar Probe is scheduled for one more flyby this year. It will occur on June 19. The flyby will happen at approximately the same speed and distance from the sun.