After setting the record for the fastest human made object, the NASA Parker Solar Probe broke its record again. On September 27, the space probe traveled at a tremendous speed of 394,736 mph/ (635,266 km/h) as it moved too close to the sun’s surface. The spacecraft was able to travel at such a fast speed after conducting a close flyby of Venus it conducted on August 21.
This close flyby gave the spacecraft a little gravity assistance to enable it to attain its recent record of becoming the fastest human made object again. The spacecraft conducted this blistering approach, smashing its own previous record of 364,660 mph (586,863 km/h), which it set in November 2021.
The space probe also set a new distance record of coming within just 4.51 million miles (7.26 million km) of the sun’s surface. NASA reveals that this is the closest approach any man-made object has ever orbited the sun before.
How NASA’s Probe Achieved Its Recent Record of Becoming the Fastest Human Made Object
NASA launched the Parker Solar Probe in August 2018 on a seven-year mission to improve our knowledge about the Sun’s corona, which is the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. The knowledge obtained from this mission will help scientist understand how heat moves across the corona, how plasma and magnetic fields changes on the Solar’s surface, and finally how the sun powers solar winds to assist scientists in predicting space weather.
The space probe has been in operation since it arrived in the Sun’s atmosphere in December 2021. After setting the record of becoming the fastest human made object in 2021, NASA is curious to break this record again. NASA’s ground team regulating the Parker space probe understands the Venus flybys are an important part of the mission to enable to spacecraft study the Sun’s scorching surface.
Hence, on August 21, 2023, the solar probe was meant to conduct a close flyby of Venus. The planet absorbs some orbital energy from the space probe to move closer to the sun. Hence, after the flyby, the Parker Space probe traveled closer to the sun smashing its previous record of 364,660 mph (586,863 km/h) and setting a new record of 394,736 mph/ (635,266 km/h).
NASA has announced that the space probe will conduct future flybys, as the next one will occur in late 2024. During that flyby, the Parker Space Probe will come within 3.83 million miles (6.16 million km) from the surface. At this point, the probe will travel at a greater speed, smashing its records.
It will also be the probe’s final trip around the sun. Hence, we should expect it to reach tremendous speed as it takes a final glance at the largest cosmic object holding our solar system together.
Conclusion
NASA Parker solar probe just smashed its record to become the fastest human made object. On September 27, the space probe traveled at a tremendous speed of 394,736 mph/ (635,266 km/h) as it moved too close to the sun’s surface. What do you think about this history-breaking record, set by NASA’s Solar Probe? Check out these best telescopes from Amazon. Note that when you buy from Amazon, we will make some commission.
