INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
has set a new record for becoming the closest human-made object to the Sun, the US space agency announced Monday."The spacecraft passed the
current record of 26.55 million miles (42.73 million kilometers) from the Sun's surface on Oct
29, 2018, at about 1:04 pm EDT (1704 GMT)," said a NASA statement."The previous record for closest solar approach was set by the
German-American Helios 2 spacecraft in April 1976."The $1.5 billion unmanned spacecraft launched in August, on a strategic mission to
protect the Earth by unveiling the mysteries of dangerous solar storms.Its goal is make a series of 24 flybys past our scorching
star.Another record is in sight for the Parker Solar Probe.The spaceship is "expected to break the record for fastest spacecraft traveling
relative to the Sun on Oct
29 at about 10:54 pm EDT (Tuesday 0254 GMT)," NASA said."The current record for heliocentric speed is 153,454 miles (246,960 kilometers) per
hour, set by Helios 2 in April 1976."Parker's first close encounter with the Sun is scheduled for October 31.Its final close approach --
coming just 3.83 million miles from the Sun's surface -- is expected in 2024, NASA said.(Except for the headline, this story has not been
edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
