Why Falling Toward the Sun Is Almost Impossible

Close your eyes and let your mind drift into the quiet mechanics of the solar system. A gentle journey into why falling toward the Sun is almost impossible. Earth is moving sideways at 30 kilometers per second. To fall into the Sun, you would have to cancel all that speed—an immense challenge. It actually takes less energy to escape the solar system entirely than to crash into the Sun. Spacecraft like the Parker Solar Probe use Venus and Earth flybys to shed speed over years. Even then, they travel at 430,000 mph to avoid falling in. Let the quiet elegance of orbital mechanics carry you into a deep and restful sleep.