Recently, NASA* made history. Its spacecraft made the closest approach to the sun.In 2018, the space agency launched the Parker Solar Probe.* Its mission is to fly close to the sun and study it.

Since 2018, the probe has flown near the sun many times. It even passed through the sun’s corona.*

Recently, the probe flew within 6.1 million kilometers of the sun’s surface. This distance to the sun is a new world record.The probe has gathered new information about the sun. So, scientists will better understand solar activity and space weather.

Parker Solar Probe 

The Parker Solar Probe is the fastest spacecraft ever made. It can travel at 690,000 kilometers per hour. Also, it is designed to withstand extremely high temperatures.

Name of the Mission

This space mission is named after an astrophysicist named Eugene Parker. He first proposed the theory of solar winds* in the 1950s.

* NASA 미국항공우주국, 나사

* Parker Solar Probe 파커 태양 탐사선

* corona 코로나 (태양대기의 가장 바깥층을 구성하고 있는 부분)

* solar wind 태양풍 (태양에서 우주공간으로 날아가는 전기를 띤 입자의 흐름)

close 가까운 (closest 가장 가까운); 가까이, 바싹 / recently 최근에 / make history 역사에 남을만한 일을 하다 / spacecraft 우주선/ approach 접근 / space agency 항공 우주국 / launch 발사하다 / mission 임무 / study 연구하다 / pass through 관통하다, 지나가다/ million 100만 / surface 표면 / distance 거리 / gather 모으다 / information 정보 / scientist 과학자/ understand 이해하다 / solar 태양의 / activity 활동 / weather 날씨 / fastest 가장 빠른 (fast 빠른) / travel 이동하다 / per hour 시간 당, 시속 / be designed 설계되다 (design 설계하다) / withstand 견디다 / extremely 매우, 몹시 / temperature 온도 / be named after ~을 따서 명명되다 / astrophysicist 천체 물리학자 / propose 제안하다 / theory 이론

▪ Talk!! Talk!!

1. Why do you think exploring space is important? How can it help people on Earth?

2. If you could, would you like to work on a space mission like the Parker Solar Probe? Why?

3. Would you want to go to space one day? Why or why not?

4. If you could create a spacecraft, where would you send it, and why? 

5. Space exploration helps us learn about the universe. What else do you think we should explore, and why?

Recently, NASA* made history. Its spacecraft made the closest approach to the sun.In 2018, the space agency launched the Parker Solar Probe.* Its mission is to fly close to the sun and study it.

Since 2018, the probe has flown near the sun many times. It even passed through the sun’s corona.*

Recently, the probe flew within 6.1 million kilometers of the sun’s surface. This distance to the sun is a new world record.The probe has gathered new information about the sun. So, scientists will better understand solar activity and space weather.

Parker Solar Probe 

The Parker Solar Probe is the fastest spacecraft ever made. It can travel at 690,000 kilometers per hour. Also, it is designed to withstand extremely high temperatures.

Name of the Mission

This space mission is named after an astrophysicist named Eugene Parker. He first proposed the theory of solar winds* in the 1950s.

* NASA 미국항공우주국, 나사

* Parker Solar Probe 파커 태양 탐사선

* corona 코로나 (태양대기의 가장 바깥층을 구성하고 있는 부분)

* solar wind 태양풍 (태양에서 우주공간으로 날아가는 전기를 띤 입자의 흐름)

close 가까운 (closest 가장 가까운); 가까이, 바싹 / recently 최근에 / make history 역사에 남을만한 일을 하다 / spacecraft 우주선/ approach 접근 / space agency 항공 우주국 / launch 발사하다 / mission 임무 / study 연구하다 / pass through 관통하다, 지나가다/ million 100만 / surface 표면 / distance 거리 / gather 모으다 / information 정보 / scientist 과학자/ understand 이해하다 / solar 태양의 / activity 활동 / weather 날씨 / fastest 가장 빠른 (fast 빠른) / travel 이동하다 / per hour 시간 당, 시속 / be designed 설계되다 (design 설계하다) / withstand 견디다 / extremely 매우, 몹시 / temperature 온도 / be named after ~을 따서 명명되다 / astrophysicist 천체 물리학자 / propose 제안하다 / theory 이론

▪ Talk!! Talk!!

1. Why do you think exploring space is important? How can it help people on Earth?

2. If you could, would you like to work on a space mission like the Parker Solar Probe? Why?

3. Would you want to go to space one day? Why or why not?

4. If you could create a spacecraft, where would you send it, and why? 

5. Space exploration helps us learn about the universe. What else do you think we should explore, and why?