08/09/2025
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A European solar observing spacecraft that was built in the UK has traced energetic particles emitted from the Sun to two distinct sources, marking a key discovery that has advanced scientists’ understanding of space weather.
Researchers used the European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter mission to pinpoint the origins of energetic particles – known as Solar Energetic Electrons’ (SEEs) – that are whipped up to nearly the speed of light and flung from the Sun’s surface into space.
They found two types of SEE with clearly distinct sources: one linked to intense solar flares from smaller patches on the Sun’s surface, and another linked to coronal mass ejections, which are larger eruptions of hot gas from the Sun’s atmosphere.
Scientists were already aware that two kinds of SEE event existed, but Solar Orbiter was able to measure a large number of events and look far closer at the Sun than other missions have. This provided new insight into their formation and behaviour.
The new finding has important implications for space weather forecasting, which is key to protect critical systems on which society relies – such as power grids and satellite navigation – from the potentially adverse effects of energetic particles emitted from the Sun.
Solar Orbiter is led by ESA and was developed as part of an international collaboration with contributions from several ESA Member States. British industry played an important role in the mission’s development and the majority of the spacecraft was built by Airbus Defence and Space, based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
In addition, UK teams from University College London, Imperial College London, and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory are involved in four of the ten instruments carried by the mission.
Dr Caroline Harper, Head of Space Science at the UK Space Agency, said: “This groundbreaking research from Solar Orbiter demonstrates why science is at the heart of operational space weather forecasting. By using UK-built instruments to help distinguish between these two types of solar energetic electron events, we’re building the fundamental understanding needed to protect our satellites, astronauts, and space-dependent infrastructure.
“The more we understand about how particles travel from the Sun through our Solar System, the better we can predict when and how space weather will affect us here on Earth. This work exemplifies how UK space technology and international collaboration directly translates into practical benefits for our increasingly connected world.”
You can read the full story on how Solar Orbiter traced superfast electrons back to Sun on the ESA Science pages.