We have closely followed this mission for nearly a decade now, when the probe was being assembled. This is hugely gratifying, that it has performed flawlessly — and for so long. This is what the best and brightest can do.

Here’s the latest, from NASA | JPL this morning:

…During this 28^th solar encounter, which started June 3 and ends Saturday, June 13, Parker’s four scientific instrument packages gathered data from inside the Sun’s atmosphere, or corona. Parker will begin returning detailed spacecraft telemetry on June 14, with science data transmission set to run from Wednesday, June 17 to Tuesday, June 30.

Parker’s observations of the solar wind and solar events, such as coronal mass ejections and the aftermaths of flares, are critical to advancing humanity’s understanding of the Sun and the phenomena that drive high-energy space weather events that pose risks to astronauts, satellites, air travel, and even power grids on Earth. Understanding the fundamental physics of space weather enables more reliable prediction of astronaut safety during future deep-space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Parker also equaled its record-setting speed of 430,000 mph — a mark that, like Parker’s distance to the Sun, was set during a close approach on Dec. 24, 2024, and matched during five flybys since, most recently on March 11. Parker will continue matching these speed and distance records during future flybys….

Onward — and skyward, indeed. Let’s see what Spielberg sees — beyond the close encounters — to sustained terrestrial contact/co-habitation, now. Smile….

नमस्ते