Parker completes fourth solar flyby; sets new record
The Parker Solar Probe yesterday completed its fourth orbital close fly-by of the Sun, setting a new speed record.
The spacecraft traveled 11.6 million miles from the Sun’s surface at perihelion, reaching a speed of 244,225 miles per hour. These achievements topple Parker Solar Probe’s own previous records for closest spacecraft to the Sun — previously about 15 million miles from the Sun’s surface — and fastest human-made object, before roughly 213,200 miles per hour.
Parker will continue to break these records with each orbit.
The Parker Solar Probe yesterday completed its fourth orbital close fly-by of the Sun, setting a new speed record.
The spacecraft traveled 11.6 million miles from the Sun’s surface at perihelion, reaching a speed of 244,225 miles per hour. These achievements topple Parker Solar Probe’s own previous records for closest spacecraft to the Sun — previously about 15 million miles from the Sun’s surface — and fastest human-made object, before roughly 213,200 miles per hour.
Parker will continue to break these records with each orbit.