Three years after its launch, the Parker Solar Probe has finally “touched” the sun.
In April, the probe became the first known spacecraft to soar into our nearest star’s upper atmosphere – known as the corona – where it sampled particles and magnetic fields, NASA announced on Tuesday.Officials said Parker’s journey into the sun’s atmosphere was intended to produce discoveries that weren’t possible before.
And it has: NASA scientists used Parker to conclude that some magnetic zigzigs in the solar wind, known as “switchbacks,” originate on the sun’s surface. In turn, the solar wind influences conditions on Earth.
Parker’s first passage through the corona, which lasted a few hours, is just one of many that are planned for the mission, according to NASA. The next flyby is expected to occur in January.
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