ESA's Solar Orbiter will help space boffins predict destructive coronal ejections

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Solar Orbiter probe has pinpointed the source of electrons expelled by the Sun, with implications for forecasting space weather. The mission has been able to split the flood of particles flung into space from the Sun into two groups, one connected to intense solar flares and the other to …

[Alan Mackenzie]

Detection. And then ....?

Sure it's great if we can detect coronal mass ejections early.

But can this early warning message actually be used to protect spacecraft and astronauts at all? It would have been good for this to have been dealt with in the article.

[I ain't Spartacus]

Re: Detection. And then ....?

I believe you can reduce the risk to satellites by turning them off, before the CME hits. For power companies on Earth, there's also stuff they can do to mitigate the risk, should a big one be heading our way.

So yes, prep time is useful.

The ISS has got the ships, which because they're designed for re-entry have thicker walls - especially if you can angle them heatsheild to the sun. I believe they shelter in these for both potential solar events and any risk of objects colliding with ISS. With enough warning you could also bring them all home, if the ships weren'd deemed to give enough protection.

If a manned mission is on its way to the Moon, there may not be much we can do. Although even there, putting on extra speed, so the astronauts can get back to Earth, and treatment, quicker might make a difference.