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New SWIFT Fleet to Enhance Solar Storm Warnings by 40%

10/12/2025

23 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Researchers propose Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT) fleet of four spacecraft to monitor solar activity.
One craft would use a large solar sail to stay closer to the Sun.
The plan could improve warnings by 40% and help detect flux ropes that trigger geomagnetic storms.
The University of Michigan-led study, published in the Astrophysical Journal, highlights the need for better detection to safeguard satellites and power infrastructure.

History

Historical Context

Launched on December 2, 1995, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) is a collaborative project between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at studying solar activity. Over its 29 years of operation, SOHO has significantly improved solar storm predictions by about 30%, highlighting the importance of advanced space weather research for protecting satellites and power grids from solar events.

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Story summary

Researchers propose Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT) fleet of four spacecraft to monitor solar activity.
One craft would use a large solar sail to stay closer to the Sun.
The plan could improve warnings by 40% and help detect flux ropes that trigger geomagnetic storms.
The University of Michigan-led study, published in the Astrophysical Journal, highlights the need for better detection to safeguard satellites and power infrastructure.

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