Solar flare prompts close monitoring of space weather ahead of Artemis II launch

As NASA prepares for the launch of Artemis II (expected tomorrow, April 1), a strong solar flare earlier this week puts space weather back in focus and highlights the unpredictable risks astronauts could face beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Professor Keith Ryden, leader of the Space Environment and Protection Research Team at the University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre, shared new insights into what this flare means for the mission and why events like this remain difficult to predict. His commentary also includes historical context from visiting professor at the Surrey Space Centre, Clive Dyer, who worked on the Apollo program: