Sun's Explosion Sends Tremors Across Earth, Moon, and Mars

This extraordinary event was documented by a global array of spacecraft situated around Earth, the Moon, and Mars. The eruption extended to both sides of the sun, creating a remarkable and unprecedented sight.

In an unusual and rare event, a solar eruption from the Sun was simultaneously detected on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. This event occurred on October 28, 2021, when a coronal mass ejection released a burst of energetic particles that reached both Earth and Mars, despite their positions on opposite sides of the Sun, approximately 250 million kilometers apart.

Multi-celestial body observations

An international fleet of spacecraft, including the European Space Agency's (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, the CNSA Chang'e-4 Moon lander, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), and DLR's Eu:CROPIS Earth orbiter, captured this extraordinary phenomenon. These simultaneous measurements across different celestial bodies provide valuable insights into the impacts of solar outbursts and how a planet's magnetic field and atmosphere can protect astronauts from such events.

The event is classified as a rare "ground level enhancement," where solar particles have enough energy to penetrate Earth's protective magnetic shield. This was only the 73rd such event recorded since the 1940s.

Vulnerability of Moon and Mars

Due to the lack of their own magnetic fields, the Moon and Mars are more vulnerable to solar particles, with Mars' thin atmosphere offering partial protection. As future human exploration focuses on the Moon and Mars, understanding these solar events and their potential impact on astronauts is crucial. Exposure to high doses of radiation during such events can lead to radiation sickness, with severe consequences for human health.

In the case of the October 28 event, the dose of radiation measured in lunar orbit was relatively low, but it still emphasizes the importance of understanding and monitoring such events for future crewed missions to the Moon's surface.

Monitoring radiation

Space agencies are actively exploring ways to protect astronauts from space radiation. For instance, the Artemis program plans to send astronauts to the Moon and will have a space station called the Gateway in lunar orbit to monitor the radiation environment. The Gateway will be equipped with instruments to measure radiation levels outside and inside the station.

Additionally, researchers are developing protective attire to minimize the impact of space radiation on the human body. During the Artemis I test flight in 2022, two mannequins equipped with radiation sensors were onboard to study the radiation environment in lunar orbit. The data collected from these experiments will help improve our understanding of radiation exposure during space missions.

Overall, the detection of this solar eruption across multiple celestial bodies highlights the significance of studying space weather and its potential effects on future space exploration and human missions.