The European Space Agency has hired Airbus to build aspacesatellite.
It will forecast solar storms like the one that caused thebiggest northern lights displayin over 20 years this May.
These send streams of charged particles into space.
Solar storms can be spectacular.
But they can also cause serious disruptions to telecommunications,satellites, airplanes, and power grids.
The solar storm forecaster will also protect valuable satellites in Earth orbit.
This includes the International Space Station.
It may also protect future astronauts on the Moon and Mars.
ESA has givenAirbus340mn to develop Vigil.
Thats a big sum, but pales in comparison to the cost of damage from a big solar storm.
The spacecraft will launch into space on anAriane 6 rocket, scheduled for 2031.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
