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: On August 12, 2018 , the probe launched from Cape Canaveral. Its mission was to solve the mystery of why the Sun’s corona is hundreds of times hotter than its surface and to study the solar wind that affects life on Earth.

: Central to the story of this craft is its Thermal Protection System —a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite shield that allows the instruments behind it to stay at a comfortable room temperature while the outside faces blistering heat of nearly 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit . 9384.mp4

: By late 2024 and 2025 , the Parker Solar Probe reached milestones that seem like science fiction, flying at speeds over 430,000 mph —making it the fastest human-made object in history. : On August 12, 2018 , the probe