Sudden Outburst Sparks Attention

Quick Summary

• The NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured an extreme ultraviolet image of the Sun showing a coronal mass ejection on february 24, 2015.
• SOHO was launched in December 1995 and originally scheduled to operate until 1998, but has continued to collect valuable scientific data for decades, including identifying over 5,000 comets.
• NASA will soon enhance solar system studies with the launch of three new missions: IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 (Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1) spacecraft. The launches are scheduled no earlier than Tuesday, September 23.

Indian Opinion Analysis

India can derive vital lessons from NASA’s sustained efforts in solar observation both for strengthening its space research initiatives and addressing domestic challenges like understanding climate impacts. The continuity of SOHO beyond its expected operational timeframe underscores the importance of long-term investment in space missions-a principle Indian agencies could apply to projects like Aditya-L1. The upcoming trio of missions provides a model for global collaboration that India could follow by forging international partnerships for space exploration or enhancing its own capabilities to align with increasingly complex global benchmarks.

Read More