Space weather forecasting needs an upgrade to protect future Artemis astronauts [Video]

(Image credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)

NASA has set its sights on the moon, aiming to send astronauts back to the lunar surface by 2026 and establish a long-term presence there by the 2030s. But the moon isn’t exactly a habitable place for people.

Cosmic rays from distant stars and galaxies and solar energetic particles from the sun bombard the surface, and exposure to these particles can pose a risk to human health.

Both galactic cosmic rays and solar energetic particles, are high-energy particles that travel close to the speed of light.

While galactic cosmic radiation trickles toward the moon in a relatively steady stream, energetic particles can come from the sun in big bursts. These particles can penetrate human flesh and increase the risk of cancer.

Earth has a magnetic fieldthat provides a shield against high-energy particles from space. But the moon doesn’t have a magnetic field, …