A solar storm struck Earth, the Moon and Mars simultaneously, the first time an eruption was measured on three planetary surfaces at once.
An international fleet of spacecraft detected the outburst and found that the particles were energetic enough to fly through Earth’s magnetic field that normally shields our planet from such events.
The solar storm battered the Moon and Mars due to a lack of magnetic fields, which astronomers fear could be deadly to future human exploration.
Humans are considering a return to the Moon and eventually Mars in the next few decades.
The solar storm was detected on October 28, 2021, but the scientists published their findings today. The event was the first to hit three planetary surfaces at once.
“We still face a major hurdle, ‘space radiation’, which is a significant and unavoidable risk to the health of crews, especially for extended stays at future lunar or martian stations,” read the study by scientists at the University of Sciences. and China Technology.
“In particular, sporadic Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) generated through extreme solar flares can increase lunar or Martian surface radiation levels to potentially dangerous values.”
The solar storm was detected on October 28, 2021, but the scientists released their findings today.
The event was captured by the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover, the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) lunar lander, the NASA Lunar Space Center (LRO) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). ) Eu: CROPIS Earth Orbital Vehicle.
The team claimed the event was an example of a rare “ground-level enhancement,” meaning that the particles released in the explosion are energetic enough to break through the magnetic bubble surrounding Earth and shield us from solar flares. less active.
An international fleet of spacecraft detected the outburst and found that the particles were energetic enough to fly through Earth’s magnetic field that normally shields our planet from such events.
This was only the 73rd improvement to ground level since records began in the 1940s, and none have been recorded since, but still the first time a solar storm has hit three planetary surfaces simultaneously.
Since the moon and Mars are not protected in a ‘bubble’ like Earth, particles from the sun can interact with the ground to create secondary generation.
However, Mars has a thin atmosphere that stops most low-energy solar particles and slows down high-energy ones.
The ESA shared in a statement that “a radiation dose greater than 700 milligray, the unit for radiation absorption, can induce radiation sickness through destruction of bone marrow, leading to symptoms such as infection and internal bleeding.” “.
If an astronaut receives more than 10 greys, it is highly unlikely that they will survive more than two weeks.
The 2021 solar storm did not release enough radiation to harm astronauts in lunar orbit: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recorded just 31 milligray.
Scientist Jingnan Guo investigated the solar event and said: “Our calculations of the latest ground level enhancement events show that, on average, one event every 5.5 years may have exceeded the safe dose level on the moon if not radiation protection would have been provided.” Understanding these events is crucial for future manned missions to the moon’s surface.”
The study shows ExoMars measured 9 milligray, 30 times more than the 0.3 milligray detected on the surface by the Curiosity rover.
ESA’s Inner Solar System missions Solar Orbiter, SOHO and BepiColombo were also caught up in the blast, providing even more vantage points to study this solar event.
Marco Pinto, an ESA researcher working on radiation detectors, said: ‘We live in a golden age of Solar System physics.
“Radiation detectors aboard planetary missions such as BepiColombo, on its way to Mercury, and Juice, sailing to Jupiter, add much-needed coverage for studying the acceleration and propagation of energetic solar particles.”
