Solar Orbiter hit by Sun’s mass ejection

Plus: China launches new spy satellite for 'disaster prevention'. Sep 07, 2022 [Blueprint]( SolO had its moment in the Sun …and regretted it. The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter (SolO) was [hit by a coronal mass ejection]( as it approached Venus for a flyby. There’s a significant increase in solar activity at the moment, as the Sun approaches the peak of another cycle. Which means a whole lot of visible sunspots and solar flairs, essentially. SolO’s mission is to go as close to the Sun as possible, take readings of the inner heliosphere, and observe the polar regions. The idea is to help us understand more about what goes on every time the Sun’s poles flip. But before you fly close to all things Sun-related, [check out this video]( about burning snowballs. Yes, you read that right. And no, it’s not a thing. Good morning. I’m Alice, an Editor at IE. This is The Blueprint. Let’s dive in. Last Sunday, Blueprint subscribers had an exclusive insight from Nigel Barlow, a global expert on innovative change, on why being disruptive is the key to innovation. And this week, we’ll catch up with Ryan Harne, one of the lead researchers on the recent development of the material that can “think and feel”. Don't miss out — [subscribe to IE+ today]( to receive exclusive interviews, features, and much more. [Play]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Burning snowball videos are a lesson in fake news and science.]( [Burning snowball video.]( Think it through people, think it through. [Must Read]MUST READ [Solar Orbiter hit by mass ejection from the Sun during Venus flyby.]( [Solar Orbiter hit.]( Launched in 2020, the [Solar Orbiter (SolO)’s mission]( is to stay in the vicinity of Venus for about a decade, to try and glean as much information as it can about it and the Sun, and specifically, to take readings of the inner heliosphere and observe the polar regions. The idea is to help us understand more about what goes on every time the Sun’s poles flip. Every few orbits, SolO will keep returning to the vicinity of Venus in order to use the planet's gravity to either alter or tilt its own orbit. → The Earth's magnetosphere protects us from all such solar activity, but our spacecraft are continuously at risk from the energy-intensive bursts from the Sun. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Linkedin]( [SCIENCE]SCIENCE [China launches a new spy satellite into space for 'disaster prevention'.]( It is one of a new classified series of [remote sensing satellites]( that is reportedly for “science experiments, census of national land resources, crop yield estimation and disaster prevention.” [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Science - Scientists successfully turned [thin air into green hydrogen]( for 12 days. - A new James Webb image shows [ghostly ripple rings]( around a distant star. - [Asteroids near Earth]( are we in danger? [HEALTH]HEALTH [China just approved the world's first inhaled Covid-19 vaccine mist.]( China has become the first country to approve the [world's first inhaled vaccine](. The Chinese government, WHO, and several other countries have given the green light for its use as a booster and primary vaccine. [READ MORE [Arrow]]( And Other Stories in Health - Sleep quality is the strongest [indicator of the lifespan]( study finds. - A new Cambridge study destroys the ['lazy stoner' stereotype](. - San Diego teens develop sports psychology to [prevent athlete burnout](. [MAIL & MUSINGS]MAIL & MUSINGS The Solar Orbiter has been hit by a mass ejection from the Sun during Venus flyby. What is the most important thing you think we will learn more about from SolO’s mission? [Space weather]( [The Sun]( [Venus]( [Something else entirely]( YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Yesterday, we asked you if you think there’s a genuine risk of a significantly-sized asteroid hitting us without much warning. And 48 percent of you said yes, but we're making advancements. 48% Yes, but we're making advancements 24% No, our instruments would detect it 17% Yes, they can be unpredictable 12% No, the chances are too slim [QUOTE OF THE DAY]QUOTE OF THE DAY “We must know. We will know.” David Hilbert 1862–1943 German mathematician: epitaph on his tombstone, Göttingen; Constance Reid Hilbert (1970) ch. 25. [THINGS WE LOVE]THINGS WE LOVE [image]( [OIAHOMY Industrial Bookshelf]( [image]( [Mophorn Kitchen Cabinet]( [image]( [Steel Series Arctis 7X]( [image]( [Wolverine Crosscut Paper Shredder]( [AND ANOTHER THING]AND ANOTHER THING - China's [solar-powered drone]( completes maiden flight. It is twice as big as Zephyr S. - Indigenous Americans ruled democratically [long before the U.S. did](. (Science News) - The mineral that could [remove 1 billion tonnes]( of CO2 from the atmosphere. [premium] - Some screen use before bedtime [might be OK for your sleep]( after all. (New Scientist) - Engineered cells touted to [treat the most aggressive cancers]( in the world. [premium] - [Could dragons from Game of Thrones actually fly]( Aeronautical engineering and math says they could. (Scientific American) - NASA's [SLS hydrogen leak]( is a sign of the Artemis program's outdated technology. Prepared by Alice Cooke Enjoy Reading? Forward this email to a friend. Was this email forwarded to you? [Join Free!]( [About Us]( [Advertise]( [Contact Us]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Youtube]( [Linkedin]( [Instagram]( You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to our newsletter. Manage you e-mail preferences or unsubscribe [here](. © Copyright 2022 | The Blueprint is by Interesting Engineering, Inc. 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 San Francisco, CA 94105 | All Rights Reserved [Interesting Engineering]