NEW YORK (AP) — A NASA spacecraft will make another close brush with the sun, the second of three planned encounters through the sizzling solar atmosphere.
The Parker Solar Probe made its record-breaking first pass within 3.8 million miles (6 million kilometers) of the scorching sun in December, flying closer than any object sent before.
Plans called for it to attempt that journey again on Saturday. Since the flyby happens out of communication range, the mission team won't hear back from Parker until Tuesday afternoon.
Parker is the fastest spacecraft built by humans, and is once again set to hit 430,000 mph (690,000 kph) at closest approach.
Launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the sun, Parker has since flown straight through its crownlike outer atmosphere, or corona.
Scientists hope the data from Parker will help them better understand why the sun’s outer atmosphere is hundreds of times hotter than its surface and what drives the solar wind, the supersonic stream of charged particles constantly blasting away from the sun.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
FILE - This image made available by NASA shows an artist's rendering of the Parker Solar Probe approaching the Sun. It's designed to take solar punishment like never before, thanks to its revolutionary heat shield that's capable of withstanding 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,370 degrees Celsius). (Steve Gribben/Johns Hopkins APL/NASA via AP, File)
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and Jayson Tatum added 26 to lead the Boston Celtics to a 121-99 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday night.
Porzingis added 10 rebounds and six assists, and Tatum chipped in six boards, six assists, and three steals as Boston won its four straight and ninth in its last 10 games.
Collin Sexton led Utah with 30 points on 12-of-15 shooting. Keyonte George added 19 points and seven assists as the Jazz lost for the seventh time in their last eight games.
Six of Boston’s first seven baskets were 3-pointers, opening the door for the Celtics to seize control early. The Celtics led 35-18 in the final minute of the first quarter. Tatum powered Boston’s first-quarter offense, scoring six baskets and assisting three others.
Sexton heated up after halftime, sparking a Utah rally. He made three 3-pointers early in the third quarter to trim the deficit to single digits. George added a fourth outside basket that cut Boston’s lead to 71-69.
Tatum answered George with a 3-pointer, sparking a 13-0 run that put Boston back in control.
Celtics: Boston made 17 3-pointers. Four players chipped in three or more outside baskets for the Celtics, led by Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser with four apiece.
Jazz: This was Sexton’s second game of the season with 12 made field goals.
After George made it a one-possession game, Tatum countered with a stepback three 19 seconds later to spark a 13-0 run that put the Celtics up 84-69 with 3:27 left in the third.
Boston outscored Utah 26-5 in points off turnovers.
Both teams are back in action on Sunday. Boston is at Portland while Utah hosts Cleveland.
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Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24) takes the ball to the hoop, as Boston Celtics center Al Horford, left, and Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, right, defend, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis, left, and Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, get into a shoving match during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) breaks for the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz guard Isaiah Collier, left, is guarded by Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, right, breaks for the hoop as Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) and forward Jayson Tatum (0) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) dribbles up the middle as Utah Jazz center Micah Potter, left, defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics center Luke Kornet (40) blocks a shot by Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) as Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics guards Jrue Holiday (4) and Derrick White (9) guard against Utah Jazz center Micah Potter, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) breaks for the basket. as Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 21, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
