NASA warns about intense solar flares that can interrupt space and Earth connections. The aerospace agency recorded an X6.3 flare at 5:34 p.m. EST on February 22, 2024.
A, B, C, M, and X solar flares increase in intensity. This incident was the 27th most powerful X-class flare in history, the most significant since 2017.
The largest solar storm in 25 years was the X6.3 flare that followed the X1.8 flare on Wednesday and the X1.7 incident on Thursday. NOAA warned high-frequency radio operators on the sunlit side of the globe of “temporary degradation or complete loss of signal” during the X6.3 flare, but the public is not at risk.
NOAA noted that all flares can interfere with radars and GPS systems, but high-frequency radiowave interference remains a worry. The International Space Station (ISS) and Chinese Tiangong space station astronauts are at risk from solar flare radiation.
The most recent flares occurred during Sun Cycle 25, which is expected to run until 2030 with a peak in 2025. X6.3 flare is the largest of this cycle, but analysts say it may not last. Despite their media attention, solar flares are not responsible for recent US cellphone network disruptions.
Because astronomers and space organizations closely monitor this celestial event, its effects on communication networks and space operations are of concern and interest.
