NASA plans sun-watching sentinels

"The Solar Sentinels mission, only in an early discussion phase, would provide important data on heavy doses of solar radiation that can threaten astronauts and the electronic components of their spacecraft."

Better than SOHO?

"The SOHO spacecraft already watches radiation storms lifting off the sun, and the soon-to-launch STEREO mission will provided a better view in three dimensions. But some scientists say more is needed to learn about the radiation threats to future explorers, who would be in space for months and venture beyond the relative protection offered by Earth's magnetic field to crews aboard the international space station."

It would really stink to be killed by a solar flare...

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