A network of microwave-sized satellites in low-Earth orbit may be useful in addressing our planet’s increasingly cluttered environment, according to new research. Over 27,000 pieces of space debris are currently tracked by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network — and some estimates suggest more than 170 million other, smaller pieces cannot […]
Space Weather
370 posts
New research indicates that severe space weather events, such as solar flares, disrupt birds’ navigational skills during long migrations. Previous research has indicated that when flying at night, birds (and many other animals) use Earth’s magnetic field for navigation. Because solar events disrupt the magnetic field — as well as produce […]
Though our sun frequently blasts out radiation in all directions and at light-like speeds, studying this star requires precise instruments onboard just a handful of spacecraft dedicated to the effort. However, scientists have now identified an innovative way to retrieve solar data — most every type of spacecraft holds a […]
DENVER – While Congress and the Biden Administration recognize the potential threat posed by space weather, the United States needs to improve its ability to monitor and model the phenomenon. “We’ve got a good team working together these days, but we’ve still got a long ways to go,” James Spann, […]
Forecasters expect that the worst of the storm will hit around midnight on Saturday night. During this time, a full-halo coronal mass ejection is expected to reach the Earth’s magnetic field. Experts have noted that auroras may also be visible over the weekend in areas much farther from the poles […]
SAN FRANCISCO – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded contracts to GeoOptics, PlanetIQ and Spire Global to provide space weather data as part of a pilot program to test the value of the commercial observations. “The awards represent NOAA’s next step toward working with the commercial sector to obtain […]
The detector, a ground-based neutron monitor, has been developed by experts from Lancaster University in tandem with the UK Atomic Energy Authority and British businesses. Costing £1.26million, the project is part of a drive by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to improve the Met Office’s ability to […]
TAMPA, Fla. — British small satellite startup Open Cosmos said May 27 it has secured European Space Agency funding to develop plans for a space weather monitoring constellation. ESA awarded a 5.2 million euro ($5.6 million) contract to Open Cosmos, which is the technical lead for a European consortium comprising […]