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Camera Trio Enhances Solar Storm Forecasting

  • Published
  • By Space Vehicles Directorate
  • AFRL/VS
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Every 100-plus minutes, while orbiting approximately 50 miles above the earth aboard the Coriolis satellite, the experimental Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) scans the darkness of space seeking sun-generated, magnetic particle clouds bound for earth. Since the SMEI became operational in January 2003, its three charge-coupled device cameras have photographed over 200 coronal mass ejections. Of these, approximately 30 have reached the earth, causing a variety of problems ranging from warfighter communication disruption to spacecraft component damage. The SMEI proof-of-concept experiment significantly enhances forecast accuracy in determining when and where destructive clouds of solar particles will impact the earth.

Situated 93 million miles from earth, the sun periodically discharges large masses of plasma and embedded electromagnetic fields. These "coronal mass ejections" travel at speeds approaching 4 million mph. The furiously fast-moving solar material can impact the earth within 1 to 3 days after its departure from the sun. The masses can also trigger geomagnetic storms, which not only disrupt electrical power and communication systems on earth but also damage the circuitry and degrade the performance of spacecraft. In addition to monitoring solar storms, the experimental SMEI observes high-altitude auroras, asteroids, debris, stellar variability, and unique comet tail disconnections.

The SMEI experiment has established the benchmark for future space weather forecasting endeavors. The trial involves a partnership between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the University of California at San Diego, Boston College, Boston University, Montana State University, the University of Birmingham ( England), the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, and AFRL.