NASA's probe was sent to "kiss" the Sun at a record-breaking close distance.

This is reported by the publication Space.

The spacecraft was launched on Christmas Eve, December 24. This marks its 22nd flyby near the Sun, but this time it traveled at a record speed of 692,000 km/h. This is 300 times faster than the maximum speed of a Lockheed Martin jet fighter on Earth.

This achievement was made possible by seven gravitational "boosts" from flybys of Venus, the last of which occurred in November.

For this flyby, NASA had to temporarily lose contact with the spacecraft. Therefore, the first evidence that it "survived" will arrive on December 27. Despite this, scientists have planned at least two more orbits around the Sun.

The mission of the Parker Solar Probe is to "touch" the Sun to help scientists gain a better understanding of the star. This probe is roughly the size of a small car. It is protected by the first heat shield of its kind and other innovative technologies, allowing it to withstand temperatures up to 982 degrees Celsius.

NASA has stated that the launch on December 24 "will go down in history for its record close approach to the Sun."