Experts watch the Sun to protect Artemis II astronauts

Four astronauts on the Artemis II mission will travel beyond Earth’s protective magnetic field, relying on the Orion spacecraft for shielding during the 10-day flight. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will monitor the Sun around the clock and translate space weather into real-time decisions to protect the crew.

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are the main concerns. The strongest flares can release more energy than a billion hydrogen bombs, and coronal mass ejections are giant clouds of solar particles hundreds of times the size of Earth. The primary risk for astronauts comes from solar particle events that accelerate particles to near light speed and can raise radiation levels inside the spacecraft, increasing lifetime health risks such as cancer or disorders that could impair cognition and performance.

United States

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