Nasa has confirmed that its Parker Solar Probe is now closer to the sun than any spacecraft has ever been.
The probe surpassed the record of 26.6 million miles set by Helios-2 in 1976.
We’re getting closer to “touching” the Sun! ☀️#ParkerSolarProbe became the closest-ever spacecraft to the Sun when it passed within 26.55 million miles of the Sun’s surface. Find out more: https://t.co/DVvHLRB1Ap pic.twitter.com/7YPJJwLrp1
— NASA (@NASA) October 29, 2018
It will keep getting closer to the sun until it flies through the corona, or outer atmosphere, for the first time next week, passing within 15 million miles of the solar surface.
Parker will make 24 close approaches to the sun over the next seven years, ultimately coming within just 3.8 million miles.