轨道“安全气囊”提议阻挡太阳风暴

Gases released from satellites could slash the threat of severe space weather PAUL VOOSEN W hen violent eruptions from the Sun rattle Earth’s magnetic field, they do more than paint aurorae across the night sky. They can scramble the electronics of satellites and induce powerful ground currents that knock out electrical grids. It’s been estimated that a one-in-a- 100-year solar storm like the 1859 Car- rington Event could cause more than $3 trillion of damage to the power grid alone. Yet for decades, society’s only defenses have been better space weather forecasts and more durable technology on the ground and in space. Now, a small group of space physicists says humanity should intervene and weaken solar storms in real time. …