NASA delays James Webb Space Telescope launch after processing "incident"
CBSDec 27, 2021
NASA Probe Makes Record-Setting Solar Fly-by
Above: The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket payload fairing with the NASA and Parker Solar Probe emblems on Aug. 8, 2018 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Image copyright: NASA Handout/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Over five years after its launch, NASA's Parker Solar Probe marked the closest-ever approach to the sun, coming within only 3.8M (6.1M km) of the solar surface. Setting off in August 2018, the spacecraft achieved this milestone at 1153 GMT on Christmas Eve.
The probe also marks the fastest velocity achieved for a human-made object at 430K mph (692K km/hr). It will return "data from uncharted territory," said Nick Pinkine, mission operations manager at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
The Spin
Narrative A
On Christmas Eve, NASA's Parker Solar Probe gave humanity its closest encounter with our star. The unprecedented milestone, diving within 3.8M miles of the Sun's surface — a mere whisper by cosmic standards — exemplifies resilience and the relentless quest to illuminate the secrets of our solar system. Enduring searing temperatures, it ventured into the Sun's corona — illuminating a mystery scientists have pursued for centuries.
Narrative B
NASA's relentless pursuit of cosmic milestones, like the Parker Solar Probe's perilous journey to the sun, raises questions about its purpose. Despite technical marvels and solar insights, such projects often seem detached from practical impact. Stunning achievements aside, the staggering costs and energy devoted appear disproportionate to their tangible benefits, shedding light on the true utility of these ventures. This is a dazzling yet arguably unnecessary display of human ingenuity.