The Daily Telegraph

Man’s fastest Probe will spend 7 years boldly going where no one has gone before

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How fast?

The Parker Solar Probe will be the fastest manmade object ever and will pass through the corona at nearly 500,000mph.

How hot?

A 4.5in heat shield will try to protect the instrument­s from nearly 1,400C heat. The Sun’s surface is thought to be about 6,000C, but parts of the corona could be between 1,000,000C and 5,000,000C.

When?

Blast-off is in a two-week window from July 31 next year.

How long?

The mission is scheduled for seven years, with the final orbit in June 2025.

Orbits?

The probe will orbit the Sun 24 times, using seven flybys of Venus to slow down and stabilise itself throughout the mission.

How big is the Sun?

Diameter is 109 times that of the Earth and mass is about 333,000 times greater.

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