Solar Flare Radiation No Threat To ISS Astronauts, NASA Says

By: SPACE.com Staff
Published: 01/23/2012 04:42 PM EST on Space

An intense solar flare unleashed the biggest radiation storm in years today (Jan. 23), but astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not in any danger, NASA officials say.

The sun eruption triggered the most powerful radiation storm since 2005 in a wave of charged particles that is expected to hit our planet Tuesday (Jan. 24) at around 9 a.m. EST (1400 GMT), according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center, which is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

NASA scientists also routinely monitor space weather conditions in order to protect astronauts and hardware in orbit from harmful radiation, and today's solar storm is no exception, agency officials said.

"The flight surgeons have reviewed the space weather forecasts for the flare and determined that there are no expected adverse effects or actions required to protect the on-orbit crew," NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries told SPACE.com.

The solar flare erupted this morning at 0359 GMT (which corresponds to late Sunday, Jan. 22 at 10:59 p.m. EST), triggering a solar explosion known as a coronal mass ejection that sent a stream of charged particles into space. When these charged particles hit Earth they stream down the planet's magnetic field lines to create so-called geomagnetic storms that can supercharge Earth's auroras (also known as the northern and southern lights).

But space weather can also have negative effects, such as interfering with power grids and communications infrastructure on Earth, and disrupting satellites and other spacecraft in orbit.

According to the skywatching site Spaceweather.com, today's coronal mass ejection "will deliver a strong glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 24-25 as it sails mostly north of our planet."

In response, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm watch, and the agency's deputy, Kathy Sullivan, said that polar flights are expected to be re-routed.

Editor's note: If you snap an amazing northern lights photo, or other skywatching image, and would like to share it for a possible story or gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at [e-mail].

OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel (@btisrael) contributed to this report from New Orleans, La. Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Comments

[lifeandvictory]

12:02 PM on 01/26/2012

All I know is it's time for NASA to stop hiding things and start telling the whole truth. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fusq5yrQ0jw&list=UUgm2Pr7FTSaoH6_2vlm7fqA&index=2&feature=plpp_video

[aristippe]

03:22 PM on 01/26/2012

tinfoil time

[Overtone]

01:36 PM on 01/25/2012

This was a wake up call. A strong solar flare that smashes directly into our geomagnetic field can cause a nuclear nightmare.

See www.aesopinstitute.org to understand why and how.

And what might be done to minimize the impact.

[SwiftJonathan]

06:45 PM on 01/25/2012

Yeah, they like to make these things up in Hollywood, too. But their actresses are much prettier...

[dogsrulecatsdrool]

11:07 PM on 01/24/2012

Drats, it's cloudy here. I can't tell if there are northern lights or not.