The fastest car in the world is the Thrust SSC, developed by British engineers at the end of the 20th century. In October 1997, this miracle of technology with turbofan engines was able to accelerate to a record 1227 kilometers per hour. The British Thrust SSC became the first car to break the sound barrier – previously only aircraft could boast of this. The capabilities of this monster are impressive, but it is far from the fastest device in the world. Imagine: there is something that in 2023 will accelerate to 600 thousand kilometers per hour. At this speed, you can get from the Earth to the Moon in half an hour.
The fastest spacecraft circles the Sun. Source: nasa.gov
Contents
- 1 The fastest spacecraft
- 2 The fastest flight speed
- 3 Parker space mission
- 4 Solar exploration missions
The fastest spacecraft
The fastest technology , which has ever been created by man is theParker Solar Probe spacecraftIt was launched into space in August 2018 using a powerful Delta IV Heavy launch vehicle. The probe was named after American astrophysicist Eugene Parker, who in 1958 found evidence of the existence of the solar wind. At the time of launch, the scientist was over 90 years old, and he was able to see the takeoff with his own eyes.
Parker space probe. Source: 22century.ru
The Parker Solar Probe research apparatus is designed to study the outer corona of the Sun. This is the name of the upper, hottest layer of the star's atmosphere. In 2020, just a couple of years after its launch, it approached the Sun by 13.5 million kilometers – no one had ever flown so close to a hot star. The distance between the probe and the Sun is still decreasing, and soon the device will “almost” land on the Sun.
You can read about the Thrust SSC car mentioned at the beginning of the article in the article “The 10 fastest cars in the world today and several records from the past.”
Fastest flight speed
In 2023, Parker Solar Probe completed its 17th flyby around the Sun. At this time, he was moving at a speed of 635,266 kilometers per hour – no other man-made technology could accelerate so fast. At this speed, you can fly to the moon in half an hour. And from Moscow to St. Petersburg, the distance between which is about 700 kilometers, a flight at this speed will take only 4 seconds.
The Parker solar probe is gaining record speed not only due to powerful engines – it is greatly helped by the laws of physics. Basically, the engines are needed by the device to correct movement. The probe would quickly run out of fuel, so engineers equipped it with solar panels. This was a great solution to the energy problem because the probe is close to the Sun.
NASA's space probe is gaining tremendous speed thanks to the laws of physics. Source: asiaplustj.info
Most of all, the speed is gained due to the gravitational forces of Venus and the Sun, which attract the device towards themselves. While making flights, the space probe is exposed to high temperatures – only a protective coating saves it from destruction. The technical equipment of the device is hidden under a Thermal Protection System (TPS) shield, which is designed to maximally reflect the heat generated by the sun. Tests have shown that this shield can withstand temperatures up to 1650 degrees Celsius. This is significantly higher than the temperature of the Sun.
In addition, the Parker spacecraft flies over the solar corona, which is less dense than the surface of the Sun. Due to less contact with hot particles, the device does not heat up as much as it might seem. So there’s definitely no need to worry about the Parker space probe burning up in the Sun.
NASA’s solar probe Parker Solar Probe “touched” a star.For the first time in history
Space mission “Parker”
The Parker Solar Probe studies the Sun's corona to understand how processes occurring there can affect people's lives and the performance of electronic devices. For example, scientists are interested in how energy is distributed in the solar corona and how the solar wind develops speed. Parker also collects data on how magnetic fields behave in areas where the solar wind originates.
Thanks to the Parker probe, we will learn a lot of interesting things about the Sun. Source: space.com
To collect all this data, the device needs to get as close to the Sun as possible. From an engineering point of view, this is one of the most risky and complex space missions in history. But the results of this mission can significantly advance science.
Related article: The fastest plane in the world and its competitors. How fast do they fly
Mission to study the Sun
Other devices are also studying the Sun. For example, in February 2010, the Solar Dynamics Observatory was sent into space, which monitors the solar atmosphere using high-resolution cameras. It collects data on solar flares, sunspots and other phenomena on the Sun.
Solar Dynamics Observatory. Source: universetoday.ru
In 1995, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was launched into space. It studies both the internal structure of the Sun and its outer atmosphere. The device plays a very important role in predicting solar flares, which are occurring more and more often. Despite the long time of operation, they still do not intend to turn it off. According to the latest data, the mission will last until the end of 2025, but the period may be extended again.
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). Source: esa.int
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Another fast-moving spacecraft is the Voyagers. They have already flown far from the Earth and carry with them information about the inhabitants of the Earth – there is hope that the golden records will be found by aliens. The Voyager probes move at a speed of about 60 thousand kilometers per hour, which by earthly standards is also very high.