There is now a way to predict our ”space weather,” which includes hazards from our sun.
This method -developed by Dr. Arik Posner - is in its trial run in predicting extreme solar activity - which could affect future space exploration missions - as well as humans on earth.
(Could it be that NASA scientists are anticipating more fireworks from the sun in the near future?)
Portions of the 15 Feb 2008 Astronomy.com article below.
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6623
Real-time space radiation forecasting in place.
This advancement in predicting space weather is important to human space exploration.
| A new method for predicting the approach and intensity of hazardous particles from extreme solar events that would threaten astronauts and technology in space is now in place. Researchers are using this initial forecasting phase to qualify the method for operational use in space exploration activities.The forecasting development team met its early-February deadline to coincide with NASA’s launch of shuttle Atlantis to transport a European laboratory to the International Space Station. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“This system provides advance warning up to about one hour,” says Dr. Arik Posner. “Although it seems relatively short notice, the warning can be mission critical during extravehicular activities, such as on the lunar surface, but in most cases it will simply reduce astronauts’ total exposure to radiation.”
|
| Another SOHO instrument, the COSTEP, monitors space for electrons from the Sun. “Expanding our capabilities for monitoring radiation outbursts from the Sun is one of the critical issues that we must continue to address for human space exploration. This becomes even more crucial for Exploration class missions. The transition of scientific data into an operationally useful tool is an important and invaluable approach,” says Stephen Guetersloh, member of the Space Radiation Analysis Group of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Extreme solar events create the relativistic electrons, which have characteristics that can be exploited to predict the time and intensity of later arriving ions, predominantly protons with energies more harmful to humans. “Relativistic” def. bottom of page. Energetic protons and heavier ions are among the main constituents of solar particle events, and exposure of the human body to such ionizing radiation elevates cancer risk. Heavy exposure to these particles can also result in acute radiation syndrome, with symptoms that include nausea, skin burns or disruption of central nervous system function. http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Relativistic_particle |
