A widespread solar storm hit spacecraft close to the Sun, Earth, and even Mars in 2021, Space.com reported. Lots of different spacecraft spotted a solar storm, and the findings are pretty interesting.
A recent report from NASA tells a cool story about one that happened in 2021.
NASA’s heliophysics missions reveal that six spacecraft felt the impact of the blast
In an age where there are more satellites and instruments exploring space than ever before, NASA’s heliophysics missions use spacecraft to gain a deeper understanding of space phenomena. They show what unfolds after solar events when particles are released into space.
A recent NASA article highlights a prime example of the efforts being made to investigate the impacts of solar storms originating from the ultimate source of light: the sun. This particular solar outburst occurred on April 17, 2021. Although solar storms are not unusual, this event was remarkable because it was so widespread that six spacecraft located in different positions felt the impact of the blast.
Fast-moving protons and electrons, referred to as solar energetic particles (SEPs), were detected by spacecraft not just between the sun and Earth, but even as far out as between Earth and Mars!
According to NASA, this occurrence marked the first time such an event had been observed. It offers us an entirely new perspective on solar storms because we now have data from multiple spacecraft, which provides a broader understanding compared to relying on data from just one spacecraft, which can only offer localized insights.
Direct impacts of solar storms, understanding their reach and risks
When these solar storms hit Earth, we feel it directly, according to NASA’s report. They’re the reason we see the Northern Lights and can sometimes mess with our phones and power.
As space agencies keep sending astronauts into space and planning missions to even farther places, keeping an eye on these storms and how they affect us is super important.
They can be dangerous for people, satellites, and spaceships. A report from the European Space Agency in 2023 talked about how, for the first time, they saw energetic particles from a solar burst on Earth, the moon, and Mars all at once. This concerned a lot of people.
“Space radiation can create a real danger to our exploration throughout the Solar System,” Colin Wilson, ExoMars TGO project scientist, shared in the ESA’s release. “Measurements of high-level radiation events by robotic missions is critical to prepare for long-duration crewed missions.”
