'10 million degrees': NASA's Parker probe will touch Sun on Christmas eve in $1.5 bn dare
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Solar Proximity
A record-breaking journey unfolds as NASA’s Parker Solar Probe ventures closer to the sun than ever before, defying expectations and setting the stage for groundbreaking revelations. The closest approach occurs at 5:23 PM IST on Dec. 24.
Uncharted Territory
The spacecraft navigates the corona, a fiery outer atmosphere, pushing the limits of exploration to unveil the mysteries of the sun's extreme temperatures.
Gravity Boosts
Seven Venus flybys catapulted Parker to an astonishing speed of 430,000 mph, equivalent to 692,000 kph, making its mission a marvel of celestial engineering.
Coronal Enigma
Why is the sun's corona hotter than its surface? The Parker Solar Probe edges closer to decoding this cosmic paradox with its state-of-the-art instruments.
Heat Defense
Equipped with a cutting-edge heat shield, Parker shrugs off fiery blasts of up to 1,800°F (980°C), maintaining its systems at near-room temperature as it navigates its daring journey.
Data Silence
For days after the daring Christmas Eve flyby, only a faint beacon will break the silence, confirming Parker’s survival amidst the sun’s punishing conditions.
Speed Record
Parker clocks an unimaginable speed of 430,000 mph, solidifying its place as humanity’s fastest spacecraft and a testament to NASA's engineering ingenuity.
Mission Continuity
After its historic flyby, the Parker Solar Probe gears up for two more perilous encounters with the sun in 2025, promising even deeper insights into solar phenomena.
Science Awaited
As data transmissions begin in January 2025, the scientific community eagerly anticipates groundbreaking revelations from Parker’s unparalleled voyage.