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India's solar mission prepares for unprecedented Sun activity in 2026
India's first solar observatory, Aditya-L1, will witness a historic celestial event in 2026 when the Sun reaches its maximum activity cycle-a turbulent phase marked by surging solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Scientists warn the surge could disrupt Earth's satellite networks and power grids, with the mission poised to provide critical real-time warnings.
Why 2026 is different
The Sun's 11-year cycle, where its magnetic poles reverse, will peak next year, transitioning from relative calm to extreme volatility. During this phase, CMEs-colossal eruptions of charged particles-could exceed 10 per day, up from the current average of two to three, according to Prof. R. Ramesh, principal investigator of Aditya-L1's Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (Velc) and a scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA).
A single CME can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and travel at 3,000 km/s, reaching Earth in as little as 15 hours. While rarely lethal to humans, these ejections threaten infrastructure: past storms have collapsed power grids (e.g., Quebec in 1989), disrupted air traffic (Sweden, 2015), and destroyed satellites (38 lost in 2022).
The stakes for Earth's technology
Nearly 11,000 satellites, including 136 Indian assets, orbit in the "near-Earth space" vulnerable to geomagnetic storms. Prof. Ramesh notes that while CMEs create stunning auroras, their charged particles can fry satellite electronics, overload power grids, and jam communications. The 1859 Carrington Event, history's most severe solar storm, fried global telegraph systems-a risk now amplified by modern dependencies on space-based tech.
Aditya-L1's unique edge
Unlike other solar missions, Aditya-L1's coronagraph mimics the Moon's eclipse effect, blocking the Sun's glare to offer an uninterrupted view of the corona-24/7, even during eclipses. This capability lets scientists track CMEs in visible light, measuring their temperature and energy-key indicators of potential Earth impact. "No other mission can study eruptions this way," Prof. Ramesh says, calling it a "game-changer" for early warnings.
Lessons from a 2024 'medium' CME
In September 2024, Aditya-L1 recorded a CME with:
- Mass: 270 million tonnes (180× the Titanic's iceberg)
- Temperature: 1.8 million°C at origin
- Energy: 2.2 million megatons of TNT (dwarfing Hiroshima's 15-kiloton bomb)
Prof. Ramesh labels this a "benchmark" for 2026, when CMEs could rival the 100-million-megaton asteroid that extinguished the dinosaurs. Data from this event, analyzed with NASA, will refine strategies to shield satellites and preempt grid failures.
What's next: A global early-warning system?
With 2026's peak approaching, Aditya-L1's real-time corona monitoring could enable preemptive satellite shutdowns and grid safeguards. "If we spot a CME's trajectory and energy early," Prof. Ramesh explains, "we can move satellites or power down grids before impact." The mission's findings may also advance understanding of space weather, a growing priority as humanity's reliance on orbital infrastructure deepens.
"The Sun's maximum cycle isn't just a scientific spectacle-it's a test of our resilience. Aditya-L1 gives us a front-row seat to prepare."
Prof. R. Ramesh, Indian Institute of Astrophysics
