NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, a car-sized spacecraft, has smashed its own record. The probe was launched in August 2018 to study the Sun, and has been flying too close to the star, using Venus as a slingshot.

On April 29, the probe made its closest approach to the Sun (known as “perihelion”), moving at a very high pace. The speed was enough to circle the Earth 13 times in one hour.

Parker sets new benchmarks

Back in February, the probe made two records. The first was for the fastest human-made object as it was traveling at 244,255 mph (393,044 km/h). Another was becoming the closest spacecraft to the Sun. It reached 11.6 million miles (18.6 million kilometers) away from the Sun.

However, both records have been smashed by the spacecraft itself. The new speed record stands at 330,000 mph (532,000 km/h), while the distance has now been cut down to 6.5 million miles (10.4 million kilometers) from the Sun.

While the new records seem unbreakable, the Parker probe will attempt another Venus flyby later this year and try to reach even closer to the Sun. Perihelion is expected to occur on Nov. 21.

Unfolding Sun’s mysteries

Parker has helped astronomers unravel some of the Sun’s big mysteries. In December 2019, Parker’s first batch data was released, showing key details about the charged particles and plasma dynamics of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

Recently, ESA published a new study that suggests the Sun’s outer atmosphere layer can reach temperatures of 1.7 million degrees Fahrenheit due to ‘campfires’ on its surface. Back in June 2020, ESA released the closest images of the Sun ever shot by its Solar Orbiter. This was the first time the campfires on the Sun’s surface were captured.

ESA believes these campfires are a result of a process that also contributes to heating the Sun’s corona, raising the temperatures up to a whopping 1.7 million Fahrenheit.