Solar radiation research encompasses the quantitative characterization, modeling, and variability analysis of electromagnetic energy emitted by the Sun and received at or near Earth, spanning ultraviolet to near‑infrared and sometimes extending to longer wavelengths. This research area investigates solar spectral and broadband irradiance, its spatial and temporal variability driven by solar activity and Earth–Sun geometry, and its modification by atmospheric constituents, clouds, and surface properties. It underpins radiative transfer modeling, climate and weather prediction, solar energy resource assessment, remote sensing retrievals, and studies of radiative forcing, enabling improved parameterizations in climate models and optimized design and siting of solar energy systems.
During the Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, NASA will test out a pair of new solar radiation forecasts, developed at University of Michigan Engineering, designed to protect astronauts venturing away from Earth. The ...
Space Exploration
Apr 2, 2026
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Every mission to deep space is fraught with danger. A hardware failure during launch, an equipment malfunction far from Earth, or a small space rock hitting the vehicle are all scenarios astronauts will train for.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 1, 2026
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With NASA preparing for the Artemis II launch (expected tomorrow, 1 April), a strong solar flare earlier this week is putting space weather back into focus—and highlighting the unpredictable risks astronauts could face beyond ...
Space Exploration
Mar 31, 2026
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21
As four astronauts travel around the moon on NASA's Artemis II mission, they will venture beyond Earth's protective magnetic field. The crew's spacecraft, Orion, will carry and protect them as they journey into deep space ...
Space Exploration
Mar 16, 2026
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85
NASA's Van Allen Probe A is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere almost 14 years after launch. From 2012 to 2019, the spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, flew through the Van Allen belts, rings of charged particles ...
Planetary Sciences
Mar 10, 2026
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70
Tiny aerosol particles in the air play a big role in regulating how much sunlight our planet absorbs or reflects, and how clouds form above us. In a recent study, researchers found that extreme heat waves can trigger new ...
On Jan. 31, 1958, Explorer 1 became the first satellite launched by the United States. Its primary science instrument, a cosmic ray detector, was designed to measure the radiation environment in Earth orbit. Though its final ...
Planetary Sciences
Feb 19, 2026
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38
Solar radiation warms and illuminates our planet. It is the primary driver behind the movement of clouds and wind, helps keep us warm, and governs activity through daily and seasonal cycles. However, over the past 30 years, ...
Environment
Feb 17, 2026
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27
New balloon-mounted space radiation probes developed by the Surrey Space Center at the University of Surrey have captured their first measurements of a major solar storm, confirming the research team's model, which indicates ...
Astronomy
Dec 1, 2025
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50
Techniques to reflect an additional small portion of sunlight back into space could help cool the planet if deployed globally, but they cannot address the full range of climate impacts or replace emission cuts, according ...
Earth Sciences
Nov 5, 2025
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