An intense solar flare unleashed the biggest radiation storm in years today (Jan. 23),
but astronauts aboard the International Space Station are not in any danger, NASA officials say.
The sun eruption triggered the most powerful radiation storm since 2005 in a wave of
charged particles that is expected to hit our planet Tuesday (Jan. 24) at around 9 a.m.
EST (1400 GMT), according to experts at the Space Weather Prediction Center,
which is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NASA scientists also routinely monitor space weather conditions in order to protect
astronauts and hardware in orbit from harmful radiation, and today's solar storm is
no exception, agency officials said.
"The flight surgeons have reviewed the space weather forecasts for the flare and
determined that there are no expected adverse effects or actions required to protect
the on-orbit crew," NASA spokesman Kelly Humphries told SPACE.com.
http://www.space.com/14322-solar-radiation-storm-space-astronauts.html