Stunning skies, serious risks
Across the globe, vibrant auroras have lit up night skies as solar storms interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. While the spectacle captivates amateur stargazers and professional scientists alike, the same solar activity that paints the heavens with color also raises radiation levels in space. For astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), those higher-energy particles can pose real health risks and threaten onboard systems. The recent events have offered a dramatic reminder that space weather is not just meteorology in the sky, but a factor that shapes safety protocols for crewed missions above the atmosphere.
What caused the bright display
Solar storms occur when eruptions from the Sun—solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—launch charged particles into space. When these particles encounter Earth’s magnetic field, they accelerate along magnetic lines and collide with atmospheric gases, releasing energy that creates the luminous curtains known as auroras. The most intense storms can extend their influence to low-Earth orbit, where satellites and crewed platforms like the ISS must contend with heightened radiation and charged-particle fluxes.
ISS astronauts: shielding and sheltering in microgravity
Inside the ISS, crewmembers rely on thick shielding and strategic operational planning to minimize radiation exposure during elevated solar activity. When space weather spikes, mission control may reduce unnecessary EVA (extravehicular activity) time, adjust docking and reboost operations, and orient equipment to lessen risk. In some cases, astronauts may need to shelter in specially shielded zones within the station, rotating to ensure crew safety while continuing critical research and maintenance. These precautions illustrate the quiet, disciplined safety culture that keeps humans living and working in orbit during periods of intense solar weather.
Why radiation matters for long-term spaceflight
Radiation exposure in space is a core challenge for human exploration beyond Earth’s protective atmosphere. Acute doses can cause symptoms ranging from nausea to fatigue, while chronic exposure increases the risk of cancer and other health issues. The ISS program already implements radiation monitoring, limited EVA planning during solar storms, and medical protocols designed to identify and mitigate any adverse effects. For upcoming missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond, developers are refining shielding technologies, medical countermeasures, and mission architectures that balance science objectives with crew safety in the face of space weather variability.
Earth benefits from studying space weather
Monitoring solar activity is not only about protecting astronauts. Space weather research helps safeguard satellites critical for communications, GPS, weather forecasting, and national security. In the last several nights, scientists have gathered data from ground-based observatories, spaceborne sensors, and ISS instruments to better understand how solar storms propagate, how the magnetosphere responds, and how auroral activity correlates with radiation belts. This knowledge translates into improved forecast models, giving satellite operators and aviation sectors more lead time to adjust operations during stormier periods.
What to expect next
Solar activity follows a cyclical pattern, with periods of heightened storms interspersed by calmer stretches. As the Sun approaches a more active phase of its cycle, auroras may appear more frequently and more intensely, particularly at high latitudes. For observers on Earth, this means more opportunities to witness natural light shows. For space agencies, it means continuing investments in radiation sheltering, robust spacecraft design, and predictive science to keep crews safe while unlocking the mysteries of our solar system.
