Solar Sail Satellites Could Enhance Space Weather Forecasting and Alerts 6q2h4b Technology News

Solar sail technology could enhance early space weather warnings, improving protection for satellites and power grids. 4g5b1l

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 18 February 2025 23:00 IST

Solar Sail Satellites Could Enhance Space Weather Forecasting and Alerts

Photo Credit: NASA 6t6r3f

Solar sail satellites could enhance early space weather warnings, protecting Earth's technology.

Highlights

Solar sail satellites could extend space weather alert times by 50%
NOAA and NASA’s Solar Cruiser mission set for a 2029 launch
Solar sails offer cost-effective, fuel-free satellite propulsion

ment

Satellites equipped with space weather events that could disrupt technological infrastructure on Earth. These sails, which harness light from the sun for propulsion, are being explored as a cost-effective alternative to traditional propulsion systems. Scientists believe this advancement could enhance monitoring of solar activity and provide earlier alerts for geomagnetic storms, reducing potential risks to power grids, satellites, GPS systems, and air traffic operations. Current space weather forecasting systems operate from a fixed point in space, but solar sail technology could allow satellites to move beyond conventional locations for improved data collection.

Advancement in Space Weather Forecasting 3a4q27

As National Oceanic and Atmospheric istration's (NOAA) Office of Space Weather Observations, which manages operational satellite systems, solar sails could allow spacecraft to travel beyond the Earth-sun Lagrange Point One (L1). This location, approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, provides a stable position for solar observation. Irfan Azeem, Division Chief of the Research to Operations and Project Planning Division at NOAA, told Space.com that solar sails present a more efficient alternative to chemical propulsion, enabling satellites to move upstream of L1 for faster data retrieval. This could extend alert times for geomagnetic storms by up to 50 percent.

NASA’s Solar Sail System Fully Deploys in Space After Much Anticipation

New Mission Underway 5h4p24

A project named Solar Cruiser, a collaboration between NOAA and detection of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, ultimately improving preparedness for disruptive space weather events.

Comments

For the latest reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.