April 5, 2011 06:34 pm
Original Link: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/usk6cE1mn90/Solar-Storm-Nearly-Wipes-Out-NASAs-Messenger
Solar Storm Nearly Wipes Out NASA's Messenger
tcd004 writes "There was a close call last week when an enormous coronal ejection nearly hit Mercury and the orbiting Messenger spacecraft. Scientists at the Space Weather Laboratory flew into action, modeling the event to determine how close it had come to the spacecraft using data from the twin STEREO sun observers. The group used an animated model called WSA-ENLIL, named after a Sumerian lord of wind and storms. Enlil, who wears a crown of horns, is known for being a kind but also cruel god who sends forth disasters, including a great flood that wiped out humanity. Fortunately Messenger escaped Enlil's wrath."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Original Link: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdot/~3/usk6cE1mn90/Solar-Storm-Nearly-Wipes-Out-NASAs-Messenger
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