NEW YORK -- A NASA spacecraft aims to fly closer to the sun than any object sent before.
The Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun. Since then, it has flown straight through the sun's corona: the outer atmosphere visible during a total solar eclipse.
The next milestone: closest approach to the sun. Plans call for Parker on Tuesday to hurtle through the sizzling solar atmosphere and pass within a record-breaking 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface.
At that moment, if the sun and Earth were at opposite ends of a football field, Parker "would be on the 4-yard line," said NASA's Joe Westlake.
Mission managers won't know how Parker fared until days after the flyby since the spacecraft will be out of communication range.
People are also reading... Man from Normal charged with 21 felonies for sex crimes against children Prairie Central appeals to parents for help after canceling classes over threat Suspect in Mahomet triple homicide fatally shot by police after incident in Cook Co. Former cheer coach from Normal detained for sex crimes against children Chi Family Express opens dining room, bar under new name in Bloomington Nightshop to close in downtown Bloomington, citing economic downturn Lifelong Access awarded $22M in state funds to renovate old Pantagraph building into service agency hub Chicago man charged in fatal pop-up party shooting during ISU's homecoming weekend Bloomington woman detained after police said she set her apartment on fire Chicago White Sox were 'pretty aggressive' in pursuing Mike Tauchman, who is thrilled to remain in the area Shooter at Illinois State pop-up party caught on video, prosecutors say Chatsworth man identified in fatal crash in Livingston County Flick Fact: What's the largest grocery store, square feet-wise, in B-N? Mother from Normal charged with her baby's death in a hot car 2 Bloomington residents killed in 2 Champaign shootings
Parker planned to get more than seven times closer to the sun than previous spacecraft, hitting 430,000 mph at closest approach. It's the fastest spacecraft ever built and is outfitted with a heat shield that can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
It'll continue circling the sun at this distance until at least September. Scientists hope to better understand why the corona is hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface and what drives the solar wind, the supersonic stream of charged particles constantly blasting away from the sun.
The sun's warming rays make life possible on Earth. But severe solar storms can temporarily scramble radio communications and disrupt power.
The sun is currently at the maximum phase of its 11-year cycle, triggering colorful auroras in unexpected places.
"It both is our closest, friendliest neighbor," Westlake said, "but also at times is a little angry."
Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Be the first to know
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.