NASA Probe , Makes Historic Pass , Through the Sun's Atmosphere.br NPR reports that after 3 years br of traveling through space, the Parker br Solar Probe has finally reached the sun. .br On December 14, NASA announced that the probe br became the first spacecraft to fly into the sun's br upper atmosphere, known as the corona. .br On December 14, NASA announced that the probe br became the first spacecraft to fly into the sun's br upper atmosphere, known as the corona. .br According to NASA, while the probe flew through br the corona it sampled particles and magnetic fields. .br Not only does this milestone provide br us with deeper insights into our Sun's br evolution and [its] impacts on our br solar system, but everything we learn br about our own star also teaches us br more about stars in the rest of the universe, Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate administrator for br NASA's Science Mission Directorate, via NPR.br Officials say the mission into the sun's br atmosphere is intended to produce discoveries br that were previously impossible. .br NASA scientists have already concluded br that some magnetic zigzags in the solar wind br originate on the surface of the star. .br The team also found that those solar winds br have an effect on conditions here on Earth. .br According to NASA, the Parker probe's br first pass through the corona was just br one of many planned for the mission. .br The next flyby is reportedly br scheduled to take place in January. .br According to NPR, the solar probe, which canbr get as close as 6.