In early May 2024, Earth was struck by the strongest solar storm in two decades. This powerful eruption, originating from an active sunspot region called AR13664, unleashed a series of intense X-class flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) toward our planet. The impact caused communication and GPS systems disruptions, particularly in regions at higher latitudes. However, this event also presented a valuable opportunity for scientific study.
India’s recently launched Aditya L1 mission was pivotal in capturing this historic solar storm. Aditya L1, positioned at the first Lagrange point (L1) between Earth and the Sun, boasts a unique vantage point for uninterrupted solar observation. The mission and Chandrayaan-2 orbiting the Moon provided a comprehensive view of the eruption, aiding scientists in understanding its dynamics and potential future impacts.
ISRO’s efforts went beyond Aditya L1. The space agency mobilized its entire observation network, including ground-based telescopes and other spacecraft, to record the signatures of this event. This multi-faceted approach allowed scientists to gather a wealth of data on the solar storm, encompassing the initial flares, the properties of the ejected material (CMEs), and the subsequent geomagnetic response on Earth.
The data captured by Aditya L1’s payloads, particularly the ASPEX (Aditya Solar Plasma Experiment) package, revealed crucial details about the solar storm. Instruments like the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) recorded significant enhancements in the flux of alpha particles and protons, signatures of the eruptive event. Additionally, Aditya L1 observed high-speed solar wind and high-temperature solar wind plasma, providing insights into the characteristics of the ejected material.
While the recent solar storm caused some disruptions, it wasn’t as severe as the historic Carrington Event of 1859. The Carrington Event, the strongest solar storm on record, induced powerful electrical currents that disrupted telegraph systems worldwide. Today, our dependence on electricity makes us even more vulnerable to such extreme space weather events.
The data collected by ISRO and observations from other space agencies will be instrumental in improving our understanding of solar storms and their potential effects on Earth’s magnetosphere and technological infrastructure. This knowledge will be crucial for developing early warning systems and mitigation strategies to protect our power grids, communication networks, and satellites from future solar storms.
Aditya L1’s successful observation of this solar storm marks a significant milestone for India’s space program. The mission demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in solar research and highlights the importance of international collaboration in space weather monitoring. By combining data from various space agencies, scientists can gain a more holistic view of solar activity and its potential impact on Earth.
Aditya L1 is expected to be vital in furthering our understanding of the Sun’s behavior. The mission’s continuous observations will provide valuable insights into solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and the Sun’s overall magnetic activity. This knowledge will improve space weather forecasting and contribute to a better understanding of the Sun-Earth connection, a critical factor in ensuring the safety and security of our planet’s technological infrastructure.
