Mars Missions Can Be Risky For Astronauts Due To Solar Superflare

New research reportedly suggests that a solar superflare can threaten the current plans for space travel, such as missions to Mars. There are good chances of astronauts being affected by lethal doses of radiation during their space travel, if a superflare occurs.

Solar eruptions occur regularly, which can sometimes cause devastation on our planet. A powerful superflare, which had hit the Earth's magnetic field in 1989, had caused a geomagnetic storm and rendered a blackout in the whole of Quebec in Canada within 90 seconds. A population of six million residents was consequently left in the dark.  The powerful explosion from the sun also destroyed electrical transformers as far as New Jersey as well at a nuclear power plant, apart from damaging US power grids from the Pacific Northwest to the eastern Seaboard.

However, according to a study, the 1989 superflare was nothing in comparison to one that took place in 775, which was estimated to be 10 times stronger. Though the 1200 year old superflare did not leave behind disastrous results for our planet, if something similar to this magnitude were to happen again then it would be dangerous for astronauts in space.  

The consequence of such an exposure on astronauts would be fatal cancer and other effects like hemorrhaging, diarrhea, vomiting and even death. The experts further added that thought superflares like the one seen in 775 are not that frequent, there are possibilities of them occurring once every thousand years or so. Furthermore, such findings signify the importance of storm shelters off Earth to help guard against dangerous superflares.

"An event of this magnitude would likely be catastrophic if it were to occur during a transit in deep space, such as to Mars, unless substantial shielding is provided," said Lawrence Townsend, lead researcher from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "On the surface of Mars, or the moon for that matter, substantial shielding would be needed, probably in a cave or lave tube if such were available, and preferably at a location deep within the Martian atmosphere to reduce the exposed area through which particles could enter from deep space." In addition, Townsend said he was not trying to alarm or sidetrack space missions but rather wanted to point out safety measures needed to protect astronauts in spaceflight.