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NASA’s upcoming Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) is set to revolutionize our understanding of solar radio bursts and their potential impact on astronauts and space hardware. Unlike most NASA missions, SunRISE will deploy not just one spacecraft, but six identical small satellites known as SmallSats. These cereal box-size satellites will work together to create a space-based monitoring system capable of studying the physics of explosions in the Sun’s atmosphere.
Solar radio bursts, generatedenergetic events like coronal mass ejections and solar flares, can pose a significant threat to spacecraft electronics and the well-being of astronauts. By investigating the creation and interconnection of solar radio bursts, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections, SunRISE aims to provide valuable insights that could lead to improved protection measures for space exploration.
To carry out its mission, each SmallSat will deploy four radio antennas that extend 10 feet (2.5 meters). Flying approximately 6 miles (10 kilometers) apart, these satellites will act as a single instrument, using a technique called interferometry to collect data on solar radio events. Mission scientists will precisely measure the timing of these observations and combine the information to produce high-resolution images of the Sun for detailed analysis.
Unlike ground-based observatories limitedEarth’s atmosphere, SunRISE’s space-based monitoring system can capture radio wavelengths emittedsolar radio bursts more effectively. The success of SunRISE could eventually enable scientists to predict when energetic particles from coronal mass ejections and solar flares are likely to reach Earth, enhancing our ability to safeguard both astronauts and critical space infrastructure.
SunRISE is a Mission of Opportunity under NASA’s Heliophysics Division. Collaboratively ledJustin Kasper at the University of Michigan and managedNASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the mission showcases the synergy of multiple institutions and companies working together towards a common goal. The SunRISE spacecraft is builtUtah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory, with JPL providing the mission operations center and overall management for NASA.
FAQs:
Q: What is SunRISE?
SunRISE stands for Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment. It is a NASA mission utilizing six small satellites to study solar radio bursts and their link to coronal mass ejections and solar flares.
Q: How will the six satellites work together?
The SmallSats will fly 6 miles apart and deploy four radio antennas each. By using interferometry, the data collectedthe satellites will be combined to create high-resolution images of the Sun.
Q: What is the purpose of studying solar radio bursts?
Solar radio bursts can cause damage to spacecraft electronics and pose a health risk to astronauts. By understanding their creation and behavior, scientists can develop better strategies to protect astronauts and space hardware.
Q: How is SunRISE different from other missions?
SunRISE differs from traditional missionsusing multiple small satellites to act as a single instrument. This allows for a larger space-based monitoring system capable of capturing radio wavelengths emittedsolar radio bursts.