Parker Solar Probe completes historic close approach and sets new records

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has completed its closest-ever approach to the Sun, sending a beacon back to Earth indicating that it remains in good health. The probe is breaking its own record set on October 29, 2018, when it became the closest spacecraft to the Sun. Previously, Helios 2 held the record since 1976 by approaching within approximately 26.55 million miles of the Sun's surface.

The beacon from Parker Solar Probe was received on December 26 just before midnight EST. NASA's team had been out of contact with the probe during its closest approach on December 24. This mission aims to fly more than seven times closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft.

NASA states that this mission will "revolutionize" understanding of the Sun by flying into its outer atmosphere and collecting data about solar wind and how energetic particles are accelerated near lightspeed. "NASA's Parker Solar Probe will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun," NASA stated. "The spacecraft is gradually orbiting closer to the Sun’s surface than any before it – well within the orbit of Mercury."