The US space agency has launched an unprecedented six sun-studying missions to better understand solar storms that could pose catastrophic risks to Earth’s power grids and communication systems. The missions, including four satellites and two spacecraft, will study the Sun’s behavior, the impact of solar winds on our planet, and the effects of massive solar flares.
The current solar cycle is expected to reach its peak in 2025, with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe making the closest approach ever to the Sun in December. The agency hopes that by studying the Sun during this period, scientists can gain a better understanding of how to warn for potential Carrington-level events – massive solar storms that could cause widespread power outages and disruptions.
The first mission, PUNCH, will monitor the solar corona and solar wind from low-Earth orbit. EZIE, on the other hand, will focus on electrojets and the electromagnetic currents that connect incoming space weather to northern and southern lights. TRACERS will track the magnetic connection between the solar wind and Earth.
In 2025, two more missions – IMAP and Carruthers Geocorona Observatory – are scheduled for launch, with IMAP studying the furthest reaches of the heliosphere and the observatory monitoring how our atmosphere reacts to incoming solar events. The final mission, ESCAPADE, will place two spacecraft in Mars orbit to study the effects of solar winds on the Martian atmosphere.
According to NASA director Joe Westlake, these missions are crucial for understanding the Sun’s behavior and preparing for potential solar storms. With five launches and six missions planned, it’s an exciting year for heliophysics research.
Source: https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/nasa-peers-at-sun-to-be-blinded-by-science