NASA probe attempts to observe close to the sun on Christmas Eve

NASA's solar probe plans to make the closest approach to the sun tonight in Korean time.

NASA said that Parker, a solar probe launched in 2018, plans to pass the corona at an altitude of 6.1 million kilometers above the sun's surface at 8:53 p.m. today in Korean time.

At this point, the speed is expected to be around 690,000km/h.

Parker's previous close record was an altitude of 7.26 million kilometers achieved in September last year and March this year.

Parker is the fastest spacecraft made by mankind and is built to withstand heat of 1,370 degrees.

Parker is currently out of communication, and whether he passed safely will be able to see if the next signal is transmitted on the 27th.

The sun's radius is 695,700 kilometers, but the corona extends from 10 to 20 times the sun's radius.