Help NASA prepare for the next solar storm disaster

Popular Science

by Andrew Paul

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Help NASA Prepare for the Next Solar Storm Disaster **NASA’s MMS Mission Needs Your Help to Protect Earth from Solar Storms** NASA is calling on citizen scientists to assist in understanding and preparing for the impact of solar storms, which can disrupt power grids, satellites, and communication systems. The agency’s Magnetosphere Multiscale (MMS) mission has been studying the Sun’s powerful solar winds and their effects on Earth’s magnetosphere for over 15 years. By analyzing data collected by four satellites in near-equatorial orbit, researchers aim to better understand magnetic reconnection—a process where energy is explosively transferred between the Sun and Earth’s magnetic fields. This knowledge is crucial for predicting and mitigating the consequences of severe solar events, such as the historic Carrington Event of 1859, which caused widespread damage to telegraph systems and produced spectacular auroras. **How You Can Help NASA with the Space Umbrella Project** The MMS mission has launched the **Space Umbrella project**, a citizen science initiative that allows volunteers to classify spectral data collected by the satellites. The process is simple: after completing a brief tutorial, participants review images showing 10 minutes of data and determine whether they depict the Earth’s magnetosphere, the solar wind sheath (a region closer to the Sun), or a combination of both. By identifying these features based on color, width, and positioning in the images, citizen scientists contribute valuable insights to NASA’s research. **Why This Matters for Our Modern World** Solar storms pose significant risks to modern infrastructure, including power grids, GPS navigation, and satellite communications. Understanding magnetic reconnection and solar wind dynamics is essential for developing strategies to protect Earth from future solar disruptions. The Space Umbrella project not only advances scientific knowledge but also engages the public in

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Originally published on Popular Science on 2/20/2026