The weather in space, originating from solar activity and cosmic rays, has the potential to significantly impact life on Earth and pose risks to astronauts. These phenomena, while invisible to the naked eye, are a subject of intense study and concern for those working to ensure our safety and technological infrastructure.
Galactic cosmic rays, high-energy particles from outside the solar system, can penetrate spacecraft and even human tissue. Astronaut Helen Sharman, who traveled to the Mir Space Station in 1991, described experiencing flashes of light on her retinas caused by these particles passing through her eyes. "They come through the materials that spacecraft are made of," Sharman stated. "They come through astronauts' skin, and they're what we notice as astronauts because quite often we see little bright flashes of light on our retinas, as those particles come through the spacecraft, through our skin, through our eyes, and affect our vision in that way."
While Earth's magnetic field offers considerable protection in low Earth orbit, astronauts venturing further, such as to the Moon or Mars, face significantly higher radiation exposure. "The higher up you are as well, of course, the further away from the Earth's magnetic field, the more likely you are to not be protected by the Earth's magnetic field," Sharman explained. "So in low Earth orbit, by and large, we're fairly well protected. This is why, when astronauts go to the Moon, or possibly to Mars in the future, we really need to consider how we can protect them much better from radiation."
The team working to protect against these space weather events includes scientists like Professor Huw Morgan, who is involved in research aimed at understanding and predicting solar activity. Richard, whose role involves monitoring solar imagery, works with multiple screens displaying data related to the sun's behavior. Protecting critical infrastructure on Earth, such as power grids and communication systems, from solar flares and coronal mass ejections is a key focus, alongside safeguarding astronauts on future deep-space missions. Efforts involve developing advanced forecasting models and engineering more resilient systems to withstand the harsh conditions of space.