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Astronauts Forced To Take Shelter From Violent Solar Storm In Space
Local6 ^ | December 13, 2006

Posted on 12/13/2006 9:49:26 AM PST by TheTruthAintPretty

A violent solar explosion sent a dangerous wave of radiation through space late Tuesday, prompting NASA to order the crews of Discovery and the International Space Station to take shelter overnight, according to Local 6 News partner Florida Today.

The solar flare erupted around 9:40 p.m., unleashing enough radiation to disrupt radio communications on Earth and in orbit while endangering astronauts circling 220 miles above the planet.

(Excerpt) Read more at local6.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: shuttle; solarstorm; spacestation; sun; xclass
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To: TheTruthAintPretty
"The solar flare erupted around 9:40 p.m., unleashing enough radiation to disrupt radio communications on Earth..."

So that's why FR is so slow today.

61 posted on 12/13/2006 1:00:33 PM PST by Sam Cree (don't mix alcopops and ufo's - absolute reality)
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To: 6SJ7
wouldn't that be SPF Pb 4000 for extreme shielding?
62 posted on 12/13/2006 1:02:07 PM PST by Centurion2000 (If the Romans had nukes, Carthage would still be glowing.)
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To: dgallo51

spaceflightnow.com

2050 GMT (3:50 p.m. EST)

The crew says about 17.5 bays remain out. That would be just within the 19-bay target to clear the P6 wing for activation of the Port 4 solar array rotation.




Looks like they can work with this although it isn't going to be especially neat.


63 posted on 12/13/2006 1:08:01 PM PST by RightWhale (RTRA DLQS GSCW)
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To: Alouette
Help me out here. Where exactly did they "take shelter." Are there motels in outer space?

They beamed up thermal deflectors to protect the colonists from the storm.

64 posted on 12/13/2006 1:10:14 PM PST by colorado tanker
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To: RightWhale

It figures...

With digital cable, we have a gay channel, an Al Qaeda channel, and way too many derivatives of MTV, but no NASA channel. And no horse racing (TVG) channel!

So the poofs, the Islamofascists, the hiphoppers, and the Peta people are covered, but not us science geeks.


65 posted on 12/13/2006 1:24:32 PM PST by TheTruthAintPretty (G-d Bless our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers in harm's way!)
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To: TheTruthAintPretty

There has been micro-coverage (they mentioned the launch had happened) here in Alaska, but then the pilot is from Anchorage.


66 posted on 12/13/2006 1:30:58 PM PST by RightWhale (RTRA DLQS GSCW)
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To: Vinnie

Thank you!!


67 posted on 12/13/2006 1:32:05 PM PST by 2Jedismom (http://kimsbug.blogspot.com/)
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To: Vinnie

Do you think I might be potentially a little too far south? Does this line go just to the north of my area? (Tulsa, Oklahoma)


68 posted on 12/13/2006 1:36:09 PM PST by 2Jedismom (http://kimsbug.blogspot.com/)
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To: 2Jedismom

I'm in Raleigh, close to your latitude.
I don't think the time or max. latitude can be predicted with any more than an educated guess. But tonight should be about as good a chance as it gets.

Don't expect 'dancing ribbons' in the sky, more likely a reddish, or green glow to the north.

Charging the digital camera batteries right now.

Since I'm retired time means little to me. (eh-eh)
I'm staying up.
My son in Pittsburgh took some good pics of an aurora last year.


69 posted on 12/13/2006 1:47:09 PM PST by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: Vinnie

I saw some beautiful lights when I was in N. Minnesota with my husband 15 years ago. We sat on the side of the road and just ooo-ed and ahhh-ed just like they were fireworks!

Truly spectacular.

Being from the area south of Houston, I had never seen anything like them!


70 posted on 12/13/2006 1:53:57 PM PST by 2Jedismom (http://kimsbug.blogspot.com/)
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To: 2Jedismom

I may have seen a slight glow in the sky once.
Anxious to see the real thing.


71 posted on 12/13/2006 2:01:31 PM PST by Vinnie (You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Jihads You)
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To: Vinnie

Well, I passed on the info to my fellow homeschooling moms...at least maybe we'll see the Geminids...


72 posted on 12/13/2006 2:31:42 PM PST by 2Jedismom (http://kimsbug.blogspot.com/)
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To: Dave S

"Riding in space you get irradiated a little."

What kind of radiation is it? X-ray?


73 posted on 12/13/2006 3:00:29 PM PST by ko_kyi
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To: ko_kyi
What kind of radiation is it? X-ray?

A little bit of everything, actually. Cosmic rays, neutrons, protons, gamma rays, electrons. Granted, the particles are mostly stopped by the hull, but the gammas and cosmic rays come zipping right through the exterior of the spacecraft. You'd need a few feet of lead or concrete to give real gamma protection.

Space travel is far from routine...

74 posted on 12/13/2006 4:02:13 PM PST by MikeD (We live in a world where babies are like velveteen rabbits that only become real if they are loved.)
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To: TheTruthAintPretty
"Pure" diesels don't even need spark plugs, much less electronic timing and fuel injection, to operate.

No diesel needs spark plugs, they might need "glow plugs" to start.

All diesels ever made require fuel injection...it's mechanical however.

75 posted on 12/13/2006 4:12:41 PM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (RATs...nothing more than Bald Haired Hippies!)
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To: VaBthang4
Specifically Bush's fault, he gets blamed for everything. The dim's will surely find a way to blame him for this and the associated global warming etc.

Anyway, what solar minimum? Perhaps the rescheduled launch the other night was due to weather, just not earth bound weather.
76 posted on 12/13/2006 4:19:40 PM PST by libill (The world ignored Hitler's evil too.)
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To: Alouette

I wondered that too, LOL.


77 posted on 12/13/2006 4:22:49 PM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
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To: Vinnie
Auroral Map


78 posted on 12/13/2006 5:02:24 PM PST by raygun (Whenever I see U.N. blue helmets I feel like laughing and puking at the same time.)
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To: randog

The sun's power pales in comparison to the american consumer!


79 posted on 12/13/2006 6:19:27 PM PST by omega4179 (hussein obama)
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To: TheTruthAintPretty

Ev'ry picture tells a story, don't it...

80 posted on 12/13/2006 6:42:11 PM PST by HKMk23 (PRO-LIFE: Because a Person's a Person, no matter how small.)
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