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In this archival photo from July 6, 2018, NASA's Parker Solar Probe is installed in a clean room at Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, after installing its heat shield. Parker made his first approach to the sun, just two and a half months after take-off. The probe flew within 24 million km (15 million miles) of the sun's surface on Monday night, November 5. Its speed exceeded 342,000 kilometers (34,000 km) an hour compared to the sun, as it penetrated the outer solar atmosphere, or crown. No spaceship has ever been so close to our star. (Ed Whitman / NASA via AP, File)
A NASA spacecraft made its first approach to the sun, just two and a half months after take-off.
Parker's solar probe flew over Monday night less than 24 million kilometers from the sun's surface. Its speed is greater than 342,000 km / h (213,000 mph) compared to the sun, as it enters the outer solar atmosphere, or crown.
No spaceship has ever been so close to our star.
NASA will not restore contact until Parker is sufficiently far from the sun to avoid radio interference. NASA's Nicola Fox says the scientists "can not wait to get the data." The observations could unlock some of the mysteries of the sun.
Assuming that it survives the rigorous solar environment, the satellite will perform 23 even closer approaches over the next seven years. The next is in April.
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