StemRad's AstroRad vest, tested on NASA's Artemis I mission, provides ~60% radiation dose reduction during solar storms, comparable to Orion's storm shelter but allowing mobility.
NASA has partnered with Katalyst Space Technologies to prevent the Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, from burning up in Earth's atmosphere due to recent solar storms lowering its orbit. Katalyst's Link spacecraft launched Friday to boost Swift's orbit by approximately 150 miles.
A mission to rescue NASA's aging Swift Observatory, which is sinking towards Earth due to solar storms, has been launched. A three-armed spacecraft named Link, developed by Katalyst Space Technologies, will attempt to capture and boost the telescope's orbit.
Solar storms, caused by the Sun's magnetic activity, pose a major threat to modern technology, capable of knocking out power grids, disrupting communications, and potentially causing an "internet apocalypse." Historical events like the 1989 Quebec blackout and the 1859 Carrington Event highlight the vulnerability of infrastructure, with experts warning of catastrophic costs and the need for international cooperation to upgrade systems.
