NASA: Probe ‘Safe’ After Closest Flyby of the Sun

The Parker Solar Probe reached speeds of 430,000 mph, becoming the fastest spacecraft ever built.

An artist's rendering of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the sun. Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP

NASA announced it contacted the Parker Solar Probe on Dec. 27 and confirmed the spacecraft was “safe” and operating normally after making its record-setting approach to the sun on Christmas Eve.

“Parker Solar Probe has phoned home,” NASA wrote on X. “After passing just 3.8 million miles from the solar surface on Dec. 24—the closest solar flyby in history—we have received Parker Solar Probe’s beacon tone confirming the spacecraft is safe.”