"We Choose to Go To The Moon!"
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ASTRONAUTS ARE INSIDE THE MAGNETOTAIL: Artemis II is on its way to the Moon. The crew capsule broke orbit on April 2nd, propelled by a 6-minute-long translunar injection burn. This means the crew has officially left the protection of Earth's inner magnetic field, prompting NASA to keep a very close eye on solar activity.
The crew is now inside a part of Earth's magnetosphere that humans have not visited before: the magnetotail--a comet-like extension of the our planet's magnetic field that stretches millions of kilometers:
Think of it as a windsock. The solar wind compresses and elongates our planet's magnetic field, creating a downwind tail as shown in the NASA model above.
The magnetotail is extremely dynamic. It whips back and forth in response to solar storms, providing some protection while astronauts are inside and no protection outside. During extreme storms, the magnetotail itself becomes dangerous. Magnetic fields within it can tangle and explode--a process called "magnetic reconnection." (Note: The current storm is *not* extreme. The crew is still safe.)
Every month, the Moon crosses the magnetotail for 5 or 6 days. During the crossing, which is centered on the full Moon, moondust becomes electrified and may leap off the lunar surface. There could even be a "moondust wind" near the terminator between night and day.
Artemis is heading for the Moon at exactly this time. Several Apollo missions passed close to the magnetotail, but Artemis II could be the first to spend significant time inside it. In this respect, at least, Artemis is going where no one has gone before.
The crew is now inside a part of Earth's magnetosphere that humans have not visited before: the magnetotail--a comet-like extension of the our planet's magnetic field that stretches millions of kilometers:
Think of it as a windsock. The solar wind compresses and elongates our planet's magnetic field, creating a downwind tail as shown in the NASA model above.
The magnetotail is extremely dynamic. It whips back and forth in response to solar storms, providing some protection while astronauts are inside and no protection outside. During extreme storms, the magnetotail itself becomes dangerous. Magnetic fields within it can tangle and explode--a process called "magnetic reconnection." (Note: The current storm is *not* extreme. The crew is still safe.)
Every month, the Moon crosses the magnetotail for 5 or 6 days. During the crossing, which is centered on the full Moon, moondust becomes electrified and may leap off the lunar surface. There could even be a "moondust wind" near the terminator between night and day.
Artemis is heading for the Moon at exactly this time. Several Apollo missions passed close to the magnetotail, but Artemis II could be the first to spend significant time inside it. In this respect, at least, Artemis is going where no one has gone before.
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