The device for the scientific experiment"Sun-Terahertz", located on board the International Space Station (ISS), is designed to improve the accuracy of solar activity forecasts and, as a result, improve the assessment of space weather. This was announced by Maxim Filippov, a senior researcher at the Laboratory of Solar Physics and Cosmic Rays of the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FIAN), who is the chief designer of the project.
According to the scientist, the data obtained from the new device will allow refining existing physical models of solar flares, as well as processes of charged particle acceleration. This, in turn, will make it possible to conduct more accurate diagnostics of plasma parameters in energy release zones on the Sun. A deeper understanding of the processes is critical for timely warning of risks associated with space weather, in particular, for protecting orbital vehicles and ensuring the safety of astronauts.
Filippov noted that the current measurement error is about tens of percent. However, as the scientist emphasized, preliminary equipment setup on Earth and subsequent verification of parameters already in orbital conditions help minimize systematic errors.
The operation of equipment in low Earth orbit is associated with a number of additional challenges: temperature fluctuations, mechanical vibrations, and background radiation from the Earth's atmosphere. Nevertheless, even in such conditions, the device provides valuable data.
