Category: Science

At first glance, the sun appears as a tranquil, steady beacon in the sky. However, a closer look reveals a star in constant turmoil, oscillating between states of calm and chaotic plasma activity in a cycle that reshapes its surface and magnetic field.

Every 11 years, the sun undergoes a dramatic transformation. Its magnetic field, having become as twisted as an overwound bundle of elastic bands, abruptly reverses, swapping its magnetic poles. This event is the climax of a process leading to heightened solar activity, including the ejection of massive plasma blobs, the formation of vast dark spots, and the release of intense radiation streams.

This phase of increased solar behavior, known as the solar maximum, can trigger solar storms capable of disrupting communication systems, damaging electrical grids, affecting living organisms (astronauts in particular), and endanger satellites.

Recent observations indicate that the upcoming solar maximum might arrive earlier and with more intensity than previously anticipated. Although scientists had forecasted the peak of the current solar cycle to occur in 2025, a surge in sunspots, solar storms, and unusual solar events now suggests that the solar maximum could begin as early as the end of this year.

The solar cycle transitions from a solar minimum, a period of low solar activity, to a solar maximum and back every 11 years. The reasons behind the duration of these cycles remain a mystery, despite their consistent tracking since the first recorded Solar Cycle 1 between 1755 and 1766. The ongoing cycle, Solar Cycle 25, started in December 2019, as confirmed by NASA.

The root of the sun’s cyclical changes lies in its magnetic field, explains Alex James, a solar physicist. During the solar minimum, the sun’s magnetic field is strong and well-ordered, effectively suppressing solar activity by keeping the sun’s plasma contained. Over time, however, this magnetic field becomes entangled, leading to a weakening of its strength and a subsequent increase in solar activity. This activity is marked by the emergence of coronal loops — massive, magnetized structures on the sun’s surface — and the occurrence of solar flares and coronal mass ejections as the magnetic field realigns.

Following the peak of this activity, the sun’s magnetic field undergoes a complete reversal, marking the end of the current cycle and the beginning of a new solar minimum, thus continuing the cycle of solar transformation.

While this is a regular event that happens every 11 or so years, I am very excited for the upcoming solar maximum. The quality of images we have been able to take of the sun over the last few years has gotten so much better. I think we will get a whole new wealth of amazing photographs of our sun in its most active time.

Related: The Sun, Like Never Seen Before

Introducing the Lunar Gateway
Artemis IV will have 4 crew members and represents a critical step in the Artemis program, focused on the deployment of the International Habitation module (I-Hab) to the Lunar Gateway. The Gateway is a new space station that will serve as a multi-purpose outpost orbiting the Moon. This mission, targeted for 2027, is instrumental in establishing the Lunar Gateway with its pivotal role in achieving a sustainable human presence in lunar orbit.

The Importance of the Lunar Gateway
The Lunar Gateway is an innovative space station project that will orbit the Moon, providing living quarters, research facilities, and support for both robotic and human missions. The I-Hab module, is the part of the Gateway that will offer the living and working space for astronauts, enabling longer missions and serving as a hub for science, exploration, and partnerships across nations.

Unlike the continuously inhabited International Space Station, the Gateway will be occupied intermittently, serving as a vital hub for deep space exploration. The addition of the I-Hab module, with its living and research spaces, is crucial for extending human presence in lunar orbit and beyond.

I find the idea of Astronauts living in a space station so far away from earth both incredibly fascinating while also very frightening. It will be amazing to hear from the astronauts what that experience is like!

Artemis II Overview
Artemis II stands as the program’s first crewed mission, an endeavor that promises to take astronauts on a voyage around the Moon, further than any human has traveled before. The objective on this mission is not to land any astronauts on the moon. Instead it is to gather data, test equipment and voyage beyond the furthest manned voyage.

Scheduled tentatively for late 2025, this mission represents a pivotal moment in space exploration, setting the stage for the next giant leaps on the lunar surface and beyond.

The Power of the Space Launch System (SLS)
At the heart of Artemis II is the Space Launch System (SLS), a marvel of engineering and the most powerful rocket ever designed. Towering taller than the Statue of Liberty and boasting a thrust capable of outmatching the legendary Saturn V, the SLS is the backbone of NASA’s deep space exploration efforts. Its design and capabilities are crucial for carrying the Orion spacecraft and its crew beyond Earth’s orbit, further into space then ever.

Meet the Artemis II Crew
Christina Koch: Mission Specialist, known for her record-breaking stay aboard the International Space Station.

Jeremy Hansen: Mission Specialist, bringing a wealth of experience from the Canadian Space Agency.

Reid Wiseman: Commander, a seasoned astronaut with prior ISS experience.

Victor Glover: Pilot, who has spent time aboard the ISS and brings a fresh perspective to lunar exploration.

This team is set to embark on a mission that will lay the groundwork for future lunar landings and eventually, human exploration of Mars.

In the next part of our series, we’ll explore Artemis III, the mission poised to return humans to the lunar surface and introduce the innovative Human Landing System (HLS) that will make it possible.