The American space research agency NASA's 'Parker Solar Probe' spacecraft has successfully reached the Sun at around 11 am Bangladesh time yesterday. Never before has a spacecraft reached this close to the Sun.
NASA's 'Parker Solar Probe' spacecraft
According to NASA, the spacecraft sent a 'light signal', which reached the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, USA. On Monday (December 24), the probe began its journey towards the Sun at a speed of about 430,000 miles from the surface of the Sun. It has been able to withstand temperatures of up to 1,800 Fahrenheit (980 Celsius) during the process.
After launch, APL lost contact with the spacecraft. NASA scientists were waiting for the spacecraft to send a signal once it had safely reached its destination. Receiving the signal means the spacecraft is operating correctly. The spacecraft is expected to send detailed information on its current status on January 1.
Parker Solar Probe's journey will help gather new information about the solar surface, which will help to understand the hot regions around the Sun and the source of the solar wind. Earlier spacecraft have helped gather information about the outer reaches of the solar atmosphere.
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