On December 24, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make a record-breaking approach to the sun, flying closer than any spacecraft has before. The probe will come within 3.8 million miles of the sun’s surface, traveling at an unprecedented speed of 430,000 miles per hour.

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• Parker Solar Probe will fly 3.8 million miles from the sun on Christmas Eve.
• Closest approach to the sun by any spacecraft, breaking all previous records.
• Will travel at 430,000 mph, making it the fastest human-made object in history.
• Probe enters the sun’s upper atmosphere, known as the corona.
• Equipped with a 4.5-inch heat shield to endure temperatures of 1,700°F, keeping instruments at 85°F.
• Heat shield features insulating carbon foam, ceramic coating, and water cooling.
• Designed to study solar wind and answer questions about the sun’s corona and particle generation.
• Launched in 2018 to better understand the sun’s impact on Earth’s satellites and telecommunications.
• Mission provides insights into solar activity, aiding in forecasting solar storms.