The Parker Solar Probe spacecraft has set a new speed record today. The people who built it say that they have never managed to create something so fast. The ship was traveling at a speed greater than 246,961 kilometers per hour.
1976 speed record broken!
The moment Parker Solar Probe broke speed record world, did not rest on continuing to increase speed. After setting a new record, Parker Solar Probe continued to accelerate. The US space agency NASA wrote about the moment when the spacecraft hit the old record. The previous record was set by Helios 2, a man-made probe that broke the record dating back to April 17, 1976. The record was later set by the Helios B spacecraft, at the speed of which the Parker Solar Probe was moving today.
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Much faster
Helios B was very close to the Sun. It turns out, however, that the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft will reach a closer distance, and thus its speed is constantly increasing. The ship achieves tremendous speed because it travels straight from the Earth towards the Sun. The star is very large and massive and therefore attracts the ship with great power.
Top speed date
Although speed record has already been beaten, there is still a chance that the ship will reach even greater speed. Parker Solar Probe does not fly to the sun, its purpose is to orbit it. Then, when it reaches the closest distance to the star, its speed will be as high as possible. Such an event is planned for November 5.
A Christmas gift for researchers
Today's news is the perfect holiday gift for all researchers who are keeping a close eye on the Parker Solar Probe journey. At the moment, every time a ship manages to get closer to the Sun, it sets a new record, and that is what makes it happier.
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Christmas Eve 2024 will be a real test
In 6 years, Christmas Eve will be a real test of Parker Solar Probe. Just then, the spacecraft will be approximately 6,6 million kilometers from the Sun. For us this distance may seem great, but in astronomy it is like a stone's throw. We can only keep our fingers crossed!
