Solar Activity Could Threaten the Artemis Crew
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In his blockbuster 1982 novel "Space", the writer James A. Michener wove a gripping tale of astronauts trapped on the Moon during a major solar storm. Warnings from Earth didn't come soon enough to save them from death by radiation sickness. To avoid such a tragedy happening with the Artemis crews (as with the Apollo crews of the past), NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will monitor the Sun. If it acts up, the teams will be able to send warnings and instructions
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Solar Activity Could Threaten the Artemis Crew By Carolyn Collins Petersen - March 29, 2026 11:18 PM UTC | Space Exploration In his blockbuster 1982 novel "Space", the writer James A. Michener wove a gripping tale of astronauts trapped on the Moon during a major solar storm. Warnings from Earth didn't come soon enough to save them from death by radiation sickness. To avoid such a tragedy happening with the Artemis crews (and as NASA did with the Apollo crews of the past), the agency is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to monitor solar activity. If the Sun acts up, the teams will be able to send warnings and instructions to the Artemis crews to protect them. Human missions to the Moon are more vulnerable to space weather than astronauts on the International Space Station (who are sheltered somewhat by orbiting within Earth's magnetosphere). A trip to the Moon takes crews outside that protective "shell" that wards off most solar radiation that poses a threat to Earth. Space weather is caused by outbursts from the Sun such as X-class flares and coronal mass ejections. They carry a stream of highly charged particles toward Earth and out through the Solar System. The radiation from those storms is lethal to most life. If a significant solar storm occurs near the Artemis II crew, it could raise radiation levels inside their spacecraft or on the lunar surface. Too high a total lifetime exposure can contribute to increased risks of developing cancer or health disorders that could impair cognition and performance. During the Artemis II mission, NASA wants to minimize that risk. That's why spacecraft are built to withstand some of the radiation, and why astronauts are trained to "hide away" during intense storms. Protecting the Crew From Solar Outbursts The energetic particles that stream from the Sun during an outburst travel through space on the solar wind. Ultimately, the swarm can overtake the spacecraft from all directions, swamping it wit...
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