NASA said the breakthrough would help scientists discover new information about the sun and its effect on the solar system.
The Parker Solar Probe spacecraft is now orbiting near the solar surface.
The Parker Solar Probe, launched by NASA, is the first spacecraft to orbit the Sun. The spacecraft flew from the Sun's upper corona and took samples of its magnetic field and particles, the US space agency said.
Scientists said the Parker Solar Probe achieved this feat on April 28, but only after analyzing data sent by NASA confirmed it and made the announcement.
Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., said the "Parker Solar Probe" touching the sun "is an important moment for solar science and a truly remarkable achievement.
In a statement, NASA said the breakthrough would provide scientists with new information about the sun and help them understand the effects of the sun on our solar system.
The probe is now orbiting near the solar surface, exploring the path.
The Parker Probe Mission was launched in 2018 to get closer and closer to the sun. The spacecraft travels at a speed of more than 500,000 km per hour to enable quick entry and exit to avoid heat loss.
In one of his flybys, the probe discovered a magnetic zig-zag structure in the solar wind, called a switchback, very close to the sun. As the probe moved closer to the sun's surface, scientists were able to identify the origin of the switchback to the solar surface.
NASA made a self-proclaimed choice for the International Space Station's second private space mission
NASA's Parker probe penetrated the solar corona in a historic way through the solar system.
Comments