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Source of Life.......or Destruction?
As the Sun is the closest and only star in our Solar system, it is viewed as the main source of energy for life to thrive on Earth. The Parker Solar Probe was sent by NASA to study the Sun as its variable radiation influences the habitability of Earth which can either be helpful or destructive to life. The energy from the Sun as well as its plasma can alter the space weather around us and interfere with our space technology including communication systems.
The constant outflow of solar wind from the Sun fills space with a thin a tenuous groups of particles, fields and plasma. The "wind" mentioned along with other solar events like giant explosions called Coronal Mass Injections affects the very nature of space and is able to interact with the magnetic systems of Earth and other planet. This can interfere with our satellite electronics, communications and sometimes (under extreme circumstances) utility grids on Earth.
Heliosphere
The solar wind, a continuous stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun, eventually passes by all the planets and extends out three times as far as Pluto before being obstructed by the interstellar medium. The heliosphere, which is formed as a result, is a huge bubble that surrounds the Sun and its planets. In order to comprehend the underlying physics of the space that surrounds us, NASA investigates the heliosphere. This research helps us learn more about the nature of space throughout the remainder of the universe as well as how it affects the planetary atmospheres that support planet habitability.
NASA conducts research on the layers of the atmosphere, such as the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere system, which is the site of auroral displays and other manifestations of space weather. The ionosphere is a portion of the Earth's atmosphere that sits between 50 and 300 miles above the planet's surface.
The layer, which is made up of electrically charged particles, overlaps with the mesosphere and thermosphere's neutral particles. The ionosphere can react strongly to space weather because it is sensitive to solar material entering it. Ionosphere alterations can have a significant impact on human technology because the region is home to low-Earth-orbiting spacecraft and is the region of space through which radio communications pass.
Magnetosphere
Because of the planet's inherent magnetism, a bubble of magnetic fields known as the magnetosphere surrounds Earth. Although the magnetosphere shields Earth's inhabitants from solar energy, it does vary shape and size in reaction to space weather. These changes can weaken communication signals and result in unanticipated electrical surges in power networks. NASA conducts research on the magnetosphere to better understand how it affects our environment in space. We can gain a better understanding of the nature of space throughout the cosmos by examining this nearby space environment. These studies aid in understanding the basic physics of space, which differs from our daily experience on Earth in that it is dominated by complicated electromagnetic interactions.
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