The Parker Solar Probe, a mission aimed at unraveling the mysteries of the sun, has reached a proximity close enough to make a significant breakthrough.

By analyzing data gathered by the probe, scientists have identified the origin of solar wind—the charged particles that emanate from the sun’s scorching outer atmosphere, known as the corona, and travel towards Earth, CNN reported.

Launched in 2018 and named after the renowned astrophysicist Eugene Parker, the mission’s primary objective was to observe the formation of the solar wind in the sun’s vicinity and understand how it manages to escape the gravitational pull of the star.

This recent discovery contributes to fulfilling that objective.