According to scientists at NASA the Sun’s interplanetary magnetic field is weakening. Richard Mewaldt from Caltech writes, "In 2009, cosmic ray intensities have increased 19% beyond anything we've seen in the past 50 years." This presents some challenges for future NASA missions. If the Sun’s magnetic defense mechanism for our solar system continues to shrink and weaken then future deep space flight missions could face increasing exposure to high intensity radiation from outside our solar system. At the same time, measurements from the Ulysses spacecraft have shown that the solar wind from the sun’s surface is also at a 50 year low. It is the solar wind that slows and deflects harmful space radiation headed toward Earth. You can read the article at 13wham.com. Click on weather authority and then weather extra.
