Nasa probe ‘safe’ after closest-ever approach to sun

Parker solar spacecraft successfully completes closest flyby of any human-made object

Undated handout issued by Nasa of an artist's impression of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun.

Nasa’s Parker solar probe is safe and operating normally after successfully completing the closest-ever approach to the sun by any human-made object, the space agency has said.

The spacecraft passed just 3.8m miles (6.1m km) from the solar surface on 24 December, flying into the sun’s outer atmosphere – the corona – on a mission to help scientists learn more about Earth’s closest star.