 TED-Ed: How did NASA touch the Sun without melting?

How did NASA touch the Sun without melting?

In 2021, the Parker Solar Probe achieved its mission to touch the Sun, skimming through its outermost atmosphere. Since then, it’s carved closer and closer paths, but probing deeper into the corona— without melting, exploding, or falling into the Sun— is a monumental engineering challenge. Is it possible? Explore the obstacles of the mission and how it could unlock the mysteries of our star. [Directed by Igor Ćorić, Artrake Studio, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].

The Parker Solar Probe blazes through the solar winds at over 630,000 kilometers per hour, braving temperatures of 1,500 degrees Celsius to skim the Sun's outer atmosphere. Yet, every kilometer closer demands new feats of engineering to survive the Sun’s deadly heat and gravity. Ingenious shields and orbital maneuvers are pushing the limits, aiming to reach the mysterious transition zone where temperatures plummet in mere kilometers. Unlocking these secrets could transform our understanding of the Sun and speed our journeys through the solar system.