NASA Parker probe will plunge into THE SUN at 213,200 mph TODAY

These ions – charged particles – travel at extraordinary speeds, up to half the speed of light, before swamping all objects in the solar system, drenching them in deadly radiation.

Earth is protected by these by our planet’s thick atmosphere and strong magnetic field and, for the most part, they only manifest themselves as auroras at the north and south poles.

But stronger cosmic events can adversely affect electronics on Earth, with GPS and related services known to go off-line.

Nour Raouafi, Parker Solar Probe project scientist, said: “Parker Solar Probe is providing us with the measurements essential to understanding solar phenomena that have been puzzling us for decades.

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