No, NASA has never sent a spacecraft to touch the Sun. The Sun's surface is incredibly hot, reaching temperatures of over 9,900 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius).
However, NASA has sent spacecraft close to the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe, launched in 2018, is designed to study the Sun's atmosphere, called the corona.
Parker Solar Probe: A Mission to the Sun
The Parker Solar Probe has a special heat shield that protects it from the Sun's intense heat. It will eventually fly within 4 million miles of the Sun's surface, closer than any spacecraft has ever been.
- The Probe's Purpose: The mission aims to understand the Sun's corona, how it heats up, and how solar wind is generated.
- Key Features: The probe is equipped with instruments to measure magnetic fields, plasma, and energetic particles.
- Data Collection: The Parker Solar Probe will help scientists learn more about the Sun's activity and its impact on Earth.
While NASA hasn't physically reached the Sun, the Parker Solar Probe is a remarkable feat of engineering that allows us to study our nearest star in unprecedented detail.
