Another X class flare.

NOAA ^

[Davea]

MAJOR X-CLASS FLARE IN-PROGRESS

Updated: 17:45 UTC 02 November (12:45 pm EST, 02 November):

Geomagnetic activity has been unsettled to weakly active over the last 24 hours. Conditions may change within the next 72 hours following the X-class flare that is currently in-progress. Additional information concerning this event will be made available soon, when more data becomes available.

Solar Activity Update

Another powerful class X8.3 solar flare is in-progress from Region 486 (the same spot complex that produced the X17 and X10 flares and associated severe geomagnetic and auroral storms last week). A strong coronal mass ejection from this event has been confirmed, but it is too early to tell if any portion of it is Earthward-directed. Stay tuned for updates or join our discussion forum where all updates will be distributed via e-mail. Visit: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/email.html for details on how to join.

This is a suspected PROTON FLARE. High energy protons at greater than 10 to 100 MeV are anticipated within the next 1 to 3 hours.

[rs79bm]

For the most part, not much. It has more of an effect on satellite data and transmissions, as it affects wavelengths and alters the earth's magnetic field. As far as the International Space Station, it is shielded from these x-rays, for the most part.

[Recovering_Democrat]

The sun is blasting giant flares out at the earth in anger, and some of us are worried about inhaling helium from party balloons.

[rs79bm]

A fellow called in to Art Bell last night and said this was the precurser to the Sun going supernova.

It has been suggested that solar flares on the sun are much like that of earthquakes on earth.

[snopercod]

I'd like to read that.

I understand that charged particles are trapped by the magnetosphere, but X-rays, Gamma rays, and neutrons are not.

I would be happy if NASA issued a press release stating, "We have reviewed the situation and there is no danger to the Astronauts/Cosmonauts", or something.

[Truth666]

"largest ever recorded"

If you find the words "first, last, smallest, largest and ever recorded" especially interesting then: you might want to read and have your say here

[snopercod]

(Did I leave anything out?) Yes: Halliburton

[DarthFuzball]

Art Bell was discussing solar flares last night. Scientists are rumored to be "concerned" about solar flare activity and excessive cosmic dust storms entering our solar system. We will just have to wait and see.

Ok, who's the smart-alec space cowboy kicking up all the cosmic dust on the comet trail.

[Davea]

PRESS RELEASE

Date Released: Friday, October 24, 2003

NASA HQ

NASA Monitors Solar Flare Activity During Space Station Mission

All systems remain go for a return to Earth Monday for the seventh International Space Station crew, as recent solar activity levels are not anticipated to pose a concern. The solar flare activity should not affect Space Station operations or be harmful to the crew.

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA astronaut Ed Lu will undock from the orbiting complex Monday at 6:18 p.m. EST. They will fire the descent engines aboard their Russian Soyuz spacecraft at about 8:47 p.m. EST and land in Kazahkstan at approximately 9:41 p.m. EST.

Flight controllers in the U.S. and Russia have been closely monitoring the predicted effects of recent solar activity and anticipate no change to any of the landing plans. NASA flight control personnel have determined no additional radiation exposure to the Space Station crew is expected as a result of the solar activity.

"As part of our normal support of International Space Station operations, we continually monitor solar activity levels," said Mike Golightly, Manager of the Space Radiation Analysis Group at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. "To date the recent eruptions, or coronal mass ejections, have not resulted in any additional radiation exposure to the crew, nor is any increase expected from these events," he said.

Increased solar activity is forecast for the next few weeks, and the control team will continue to monitor the progress of events with support from the NOAA Space Environment Center, Golightly added. Lu and Malenchenko have been in space since April 26. For more information about NASA and human space flight on the Internet, visit:

[rs79bm]

The most recent image transmitted from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft.

[rs79bm]

I appreciate your asking, but no, I don't think so. It is the largest ever recorded, until a larger one is recorded. Simple record keeping, you know. Nothing more. Certainly not signally the end of time.

[Truth666]

For how long has it been measured ?

[snopercod]

Thanks. I'm not sure I believe this, though.

NASA flight control personnel have determined no additional radiation exposure to the Space Station crew is expected as a result of the solar activity.

In the first place, they don't know what kind or magnitude of solar flares will be happening in the future. In the second place, there must be some additional radiation exposure.

I would feel more confident if they had provided some numbers, or said "insignificant" instead of "no".

Thanks again for finding this. I was never able...

[rs79bm]

In terms of this spacecraft, not very long. It was launched in 1995. Spent most of '96 testing and implementing its instruments, and then began recording data shortly thereafter.

[rs79bm]

I would feel more confident if they had provided some numbers, or said "insignificant" instead of "no".

Radiation is a huge factor that goes into the design and engineering of any space vehicle. Since this vehicle was going to inhabit life, you can be assured that radiation of this magnitude had been studied and built into the design of the ISS. For the most part, they are completely shielded from the outside world.

[Davea]

#110. Pope John Paul II (Karol Josef Wojtlya) 1978-present
“De Labore Solis” (Latin for “From the Labor of the Sun”)

[snopercod]

For the most part, they are completely shielded from the outside world.

1/2" of aluminum is not much of a shield. It will completely stop Alpha and Beta particles, reduce Gamma radiation by - maybe a factor of 5, X-rays by maybe a factor of 10 [?] and let cosmic rays and fast Neutrons pass right through. The slow neutrons get captured and produce Gamma radiation.

So if the X-ray field just went up by a factor of 1000, it would seem that might be something to worry about.

[John H K]

Left out the Bilderbergers.....

[Davea]

http://www.sunspotcycle.com/solarflares/topflares.html

[snopercod]

I found this very interesting data (six page .pdf file):

RAD: The Space Shuttle Radiation Environment And Its Effect on High Sensitivity Film