On the way to the Sun
Quick Facts!
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How fast is it?
The Parker Space Probe is the fastest spacecraft in history as it can reach speeds of up to 430,000mph! That is equivalent to travelling from New York to Tokyo in less than a minute.
The closest we have ever been to the sun!
Going to the Sun requires a lot of energy; in fact, it requires 55 times more than going to Mars. It is also important to consider that it is quite light for a space probe (weighing around 640kg) but it has been launched using the momentum of one of the most powerful rockets in the world.
How much power does the probe need?
Near the end of its seven-year primary mission, the Parker Sun Probe will swoop within 3.83 million miles of the solar surface at its closest approach.
How does it not melt?
Even though the particles are travelling quickly (at a high temperature), they don't actually transmit much energy to the spacecraft since the corona (the sun’s surface) is so thin and there aren't enough particles there to transfer energy to (low heat).
Why is it important?
Thoughts. Experiences. Inspiration.
The sun powers our life on earth, therefore it is important to understand why it exists. We receive energy, heat, and light from the sun. Although it may appear that energy originates from other sources, such as gasoline and electricity, the sun is the only true source of energy for the Earth. Life on Earth would not exist without the sun. No living thing would be able to survive in the extreme cold, and our world would simply freeze.
It links directly to the frequently asked question for decades, which is ‘is there more life to earth’?
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