Historic Flyby Complete
On September 18th, the Parker Solar Probe successfully concluded its 25th flyby of the Sun. The spacecraft, which is managed by the Goddard Space Flight
Center and launched in 2018 as part of NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) program, matched its top speed of 687,000 km/h during the flyby. This speed was previously recorded on December 24, 2024; March 22, 2025 and June 19, 2025. A fascinating comparison highlights that, theoretically, the probe could cover the distance from Delhi to New York in approximately 61 seconds, or just over a minute, if it maintained a constant speed. The data from this crucial encounter is scheduled to be transmitted to Earth starting September 23rd.
Mission's Core Goals
The primary goal of these flybys is to collect 'unrivalled measurements' of the solar wind and various solar activities, especially during the sun's more active periods within its 11-year cycle. By getting closer to the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe is helping scientists explore several mysteries about the Sun. These include the origin of the solar wind, the reason the corona is hotter than the surface below, and the formation of coronal mass ejections—massive clouds of plasma that shoot through space. The probe has been progressively approaching the sun. It uses flybys of Venus to use gravitational forces to draw it into a tighter orbit around the sun.
Key Scientific Impacts
NASA emphasizes that the observations from Parker regarding solar wind and events like flares and coronal mass ejections are essential to advancing our understanding of the Sun. These insights also help in addressing space weather events that pose risks to astronauts, satellites, air travel, and even power grids on Earth. The data acquired from these missions offers unparalleled insights into solar activity. It contributes significantly to predicting and mitigating potential hazards arising from space weather. This data is critical to protecting various forms of technology and life on Earth.
Speed & Perspective
During the flyby, the spacecraft's record-setting speed was matched. The spacecraft clocked 687,000 km/h. To give a practical perspective, if the probe were to maintain this speed continuously, it could travel from Delhi to New York in about 61 seconds, a feat that currently takes approximately 15-17 hours on a nonstop flight. This incredible speed showcases the technological advancements and the scale of the mission. It also shows the difference in the speeds of space travel and the daily travel humans experience.
