# space weather
Latest news and articles about space weather
Total: 5 articles found
NASA Probe Plunges Back to Earth Sooner Than Expected as Sun’s Fury Raises Drag
A retired NASA Van Allen probe re-entered Earth’s atmosphere years earlier than predicted after an unexpectedly active solar cycle increased atmospheric drag. NASA says the risk to people on the ground is low, but the event spotlights the limits of current disposal practices and the growing need for improved space-traffic and debris management.
NOAA Issues Alert After X‑Class Solar Flare; Minor Geomagnetic Storms Expected
NOAA warned that an X4.2 solar flare on Feb. 4 produced a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm on Feb. 5, with further G1 activity possible on Feb. 6 and 8. Impacts are expected to be modest — chiefly HF radio interference, potential satellite anomalies and high‑latitude auroras — but the episode underscores growing space‑weather risks as active solar regions face Earth.
China to Send Second 'Xihe' Solar Observatory to Sun‑Earth L5 for Earlier Space‑Weather Warnings
China plans to launch a second solar observatory, Xihe‑2, to the Sun‑Earth L5 point in 2028–2029 to deliver stereoscopic and multi‑band observations of the Sun. The mission aims to improve early warning of solar storms, bolster China’s heliophysics capabilities and strengthen operational space‑weather forecasting.
Small Sparks, Massive Storms: ESA Identifies 'Magnetic Avalanche' as Trigger for Solar Flares
The European Space Agency reports that solar flares can be triggered by a cascade of tiny, rapid magnetic disturbances that amplify into a "magnetic avalanche." This emergent mechanism reframes flare onset as a scale-crossing process and could improve space-weather forecasting if validated and incorporated into monitoring systems.
Spectacular Auroras Over China as a Major Geomagnetic Storm Rocks Earth
A major geomagnetic storm caused auroras to appear across large swathes of China, delighting onlookers but also raising concerns about impacts to satellites, communications and power systems. The event highlights ongoing solar activity and the need for robust space-weather monitoring and infrastructure resilience.