Eight days after its record-breaking closest approach to the Sun’s surface Dec. 24, 2024, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has confirmed the spacecraft’s systems and science instruments are healthy and operating normally, including collecting science data as it swung around our star.
Sun Releases 3 Strong Solar Flares
The Sun emitted three strong solar flares on Dec. 29, 2024, peaking at 2:18 a.m. ET, 11:14 p.m. ET, and 11:31 p.m. ET. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Solar Ultraviolet Imager, which watches the Sun constantly, captured images of the events. Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio …
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Reports Successful Closest Approach to Sun
Following its record-breaking closest approach to the Sun, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has transmitted a beacon tone back to Earth indicating it’s in good health and operating normally.
Parker Solar Probe Begins Record-Setting Closest Approach to the Sun
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is in good health and operating normally as it speeds toward its closest-ever flight around the Sun on Christmas Eve.
NASA Targets September 2025 Launch for Heliophysics Missions
NASA and SpaceX now are targeting no earlier than September 2025 for the launch of the agency’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) spacecraft. The new date provides additional time for IMAP flight systems preparations prior to launch.
Station Crew Works Science Installs and Spacewalk Cleanup Before Holidays
Science hardware installations wrapped up the week for the Expedition 72 crew members aboard the International Space Station. The cosmonauts also slept in on Friday following a spacewalk the day before. NASA Flight Engineers Don Pettit and Nick Hague finalized the installation of the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device that provides advanced bicycling, rowing, and …
NASA, ISRO Aiming to Launch NISAR Mission in March 2025
NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) are looking at a likely launch date in March 2025 for the NISAR satellite. Short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, NISAR will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days to measure changes in the planet’s ecosystems, its land and sea ice, …
Roscosmos Spacewalkers Finish External Science Work
Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner concluded their spacewalk Dec. 19 at 5:53 p.m. EST after seven hours and 17 minutes. Ovchinin and Vagner completed all of their major objectives, which included installing an experiment package designed to monitor celestial x-ray sources and new electrical connector patch panels and removing several experiments for disposal. …
Spacewalkers Exit Station for Science and Robotics Work
Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner began a spacewalk at 10:36 a.m. EST to install an experiment package designed to monitor celestial x-ray sources and new electrical connector patch panels and remove several experiments for disposal. The two cosmonauts will also relocate a control panel for the European robotic arm, which is attached to …