NASA successfully launched a spacecraft that will study the Sun’s atmosphere
Early Sunday morning, the United Launch Alliance successfully launched its most powerful rocket, the Delta IV Heavy, carrying a spacecraft bound for the Sun. On top of the rocket is NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, embarking on the first ever mission into the Sun’s atmosphere, known as the corona. Thanks to a big lift from the Delta IV, the Parker Solar Probe will get closer to the Sun than any human-made vehicle has been before — a mere 4 million miles away.
Getting to the Sun is actually super difficult. That’s because the Earth is moving sideways relative to the Sun at about 67,000 miles per hour, according to NASA. In order to journey to the center of the Solar System, the Parker Solar Probe will basically have to cancel out that speed by...