You probably think of the worldwide threat posed by climate change when you consider the risks of the sun. However, the sun is dynamic and unpredictable, and it occasionally releases large ejections that can have detrimental impacts on Earth. It also doesn't just continuously pump out heat and radiation. Recent reports from scientists describe one such solar flare that was observable on Mars as well as the moon and Earth.
On October 28, 2021, a coronal mass ejection—a solar event—took place. The sun's corona erupted with a considerable volume of plasma, which spread out as it moved through the solar system and eventually reached both Earth and Mars even though they were 150 million miles away on opposite sides of the sun. Several spacecraft, notably NASA and the SOHO solar mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), captured images of the event. Visit the ESA website to view an animation of the coronal mass ejection.
SOHO captured this image of a coronal mass ejection on October 28, 2021. This occasion is an illustration of an uncommon base level upgrade. The magnetic bubble that envelops Earth and shields us from less energetic solar outbursts is able to let in solar particles during these events because they are energetic enough to do so. Since records first began to be kept in the 1940s, there have only been 73 ground level enhancements, and none have been noted since. NASA and ESA's SOHO, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
The problem with such coronal mass ejections is that they release energetic particles that, when they reach Earth, may be harmful to both people and technology. The magnetic field of our planet shields those of us on the ground from this radiation in large part, but it can be hazardous for individuals who live and operate in space.
Understanding how this radiation affects the human body is especially crucial as space agencies prepare for future crewed missions that venture well beyond low-Earth orbit, such those to Mars or the moon. In a phenomena known as space weather, the radiation may also affect satellites and have an influence on communications.
Researchers found it helpful in the case of the 2021 event to examine how radiation from this solar event affects the Martian environment as observed by rovers like Curiosity and orbital missions like the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). It provides details on the level of security that upcoming crews will require to survive there.
According to TGO project scientist Colin Wilson, "space radiation can create a real danger to our exploration throughout the solar system." To get ready for lengthy crewed missions, high-level radiation events must be measured by robotic missions. We can plan how to best protect our human explorers thanks to data from missions like ExoMars TGO.