NASA Parker Solar Probethe sun’s Outer coronaIt tied the record for the fastest moving man-made object in history.
The current record holder? Parker Solar Probe again.
The probe was recorded traveling at 635,266 kilometers (394,736 miles) per hour on June 29. Second time It has been reaching this speed since launch in 2018, which is about 500 times faster than the speed of sound.
It’s heading in the next direction Even faster When it approaches the sun at its closest in 2025, it’s expected to reach a top speed of about 692,000 kilometers per hour (430,000 miles per hour) — fast enough to travel from Washington, DC, to Tokyo in under a minute.
Reaching this incredible speed is all about timing and momentum. As the Parker Solar Probe orbits the Sun, it VenusWe will use the gravity of the moving planet to create something like a gravity-powered slingshot.
The probe will eventually get very close to the swirling mass of super-hot plasma. Around the SunWe then carry out a range of measurements to improve our scientific understanding.
April 2021, The probe “contacts” the nearest star Collecting plasma samples and measuring changes in magnetic fields for the first time, the spacecraft is compiling an invaluable data bank that cannot be collected from Earth. Time-lapse footage released by NASA The show will feature some spectacular flybys.
Parker has now completed its 20th flyby, coming within 4.7 million miles of the layer of ionized gas that is believed to be the surface of the Sun. It will eventually approach as close as 3.7 million miles.
And of course, the spacecraft must be sturdy enough to withstand not only these incredible speeds, but also incredible shocks. Heat and radiationProtection for the spacecraft includes an 11.4-centimeter (4.5-inch) carbon-composite shield capable of withstanding temperatures of about 1,371 °C (2,500 °F).
The Parker Solar Probe is unlikely to lose its title of fastest man-made object anytime soon, and if the record is eventually broken again, it will probably be broken by a different spacecraft.
At one time it was thought that the records were kept in borehole covers from nuclear tests. Launched into space After the bomb exploded underground, it is estimated to have traveled at about 240,000 kilometers per hour (about 150,000 miles per hour).
Parker’s important scientific research continues as he continues his record-breaking journey. NASA official website.
