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"Sun Unleashes Second X-Class Flare, Causing More Radio Blackouts"
1 year ago•Source: Space.com
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3.54 min•1 year ago
"Sun's Plasma Plume Reels Back in 'Failed Eruption'"
On June 3, the Sun experienced an M-class solar flare that resulted in a "failed eruption," where a large plasma plume was pulled back into the Sun instead of escaping. Captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the event was described by solar astrophysicist Ryan French and space weather forecaster Sara Housseal, noting that nearly all the plasma was reabsorbed, leading to minimal impact on Earth and no significant aurora displays.
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Sun Unleashes Intense X-Class Solar Flares, Northern Lights Expected
The hyperactive sunspot region AR3664 has unleashed two powerful X-class solar flares within 12 hours, causing radio blackouts across parts of the Earth. These flares, categorized as X1.18 and X1.43, resulted from magnetic reconnection in the sunspot's complex core. The flares impacted the Western U.S., Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Asia, disrupting shortwave radio communications.
"Epic Auroras Expected This Summer Due to Solar Activity"
Sunspot region AR3697, responsible for May's powerful auroras, has unleashed another major X-class solar flare, causing shortwave radio blackouts in Western Europe and the Eastern U.S. This sunspot, previously known as AR3664, is expected to continue its activity, potentially leading to more geomagnetic storms and auroras as it moves across the sun's disk and faces Earth in early June.
"SpaceX's High Cadence: A Doubleheader Launch Roundup and Seventh Reuse Anniversary"
SpaceX aims to continue its high launch cadence with upcoming missions including Starlink flights, a mystery-shrouded launch from China, and the first of a new mid-inclination rideshare missions. The much-anticipated second launch attempt of the final Delta IV Heavy carrying NROL-70 is now scheduled for the end of the week after ground equipment issues delayed the first attempt. The high cadence of SpaceX missions makes them susceptible to schedule changes when a flight encounters a delay. SpaceX's next missions include Starlink Group 7-18, Starlink Group 8-1, Starlink Group 6-47, and the Bandwagon-1 mission, while the Delta IV Heavy is set to launch NROL-70.
"Exploring Moonshots, Satellite Mishaps, and Starships in Space: This Week's Highlights"
On Episode 99 of This Week In Space, Tariq and Rod discuss the top headlines for 2024, including a partially successful private lunar landing, massive satellites hurtling out of orbit, SpaceX's upcoming Starship activity, Blue Origin and New Glenn updates, a peculiar quasar story, and the James Webb Space Telescope's discovery of gold in space. The episode also covers a detailed model of a Falcon 9 rocket available for purchase and provides information on how to subscribe to the podcast.
Space Tourism Faces Challenges Despite Virgin Galactic's Test Flight Success
Virgin Galactic successfully returned to human spaceflight after a nearly two-year hiatus. Virgin Orbit is being sold for parts. South Korea’s Nuri rocket completed its third launch, marking the first time a Korean launch vehicle has carried commercial payloads to space. The Spaceport Company hosted four sounding rocket launches with the support of Evolution Space on Monday from a platform in the Gulf of Mexico. There are more than 80 operational, planned, and announced spaceports and major ballistic missile testing sites globally.
Space Dreams and Bankruptcies: The Rocky Road to Mars
Virgin Orbit files for bankruptcy and seeks a buyer to continue its launch business. Space Pioneer becomes the first Chinese private launch firm to achieve orbit with a liquid-fueled rocket. New Zealand-based Dawn Aerospace completes the first three test flights of a rocket-powered spaceplane. China tests ocean-based landing for rocket recovery technology at sea. Canadian spaceport construction continues, with Maritime Launch Services hoping to host suborbital launch attempts this summer.