NASA has issued a stark warning in light of powerful solar flares that pose a significant risk to communication systems both in space and here on Earth. The aerospace agency reported a formidable flare that peaked at 5:34 p.m. EST on February 22, 2024, measuring an astonishing X6.3 on the solar activity scale. Solar flares, classified into five categories ranging from A to X, with X-class flares being the most intense, are capable of disrupting various communication systems. This recent event marks the largest flare recorded since 2017, ranking as the 27th most powerful flare in recorded history. Preceding this formidable X6.3 event, there were notable flares, including an X1.8 on Wednesday and an X1.7 earlier on Thursday. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) cautioned that such events could result in temporary signal degradation or complete loss for operators of high-frequency radios, particularly on the sunlit side of the planet during the flare's occurrence.

While the NOAA assured the public that these events posed no significant threat to general safety, they underscored the potential disruption to radar and GPS systems. Additionally, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and China's Tiangong space station are on high alert, as solar flares emit hazardous radiation, posing risks to their health and safety. The ISS crew, numbering seven, along with the three astronauts aboard Tiangong, have been advised to remain vigilant as the solar activity continues. Although the flares coincide with Sun Cycle 25, which began in 2019 and is projected to peak around 2025, this recent X6.3 flare marks a notable event within this cycle, potentially setting a precedent for further activity in the coming years.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)