Flare Activity Continues (February 28)

[Richard]

The flare activity continues on Monday around Sunspot 1164 with multiple C-Class flares and an M1.1 Flare at 12:52 UTC. Continue to monitor this region for further activity.

http://www.solarcycle24.com/index.htm

[Lancelot]

THanks for this Richard.
Please do keep us updated on it.
:)

[heretogrow]

Our Electricity has gone out several times since Friday. Our computers are shutting off too. Is this a result of a class M flare?

[Icecold]

We lost power today. Knocked out the whole area.

[stomy]

Our Electricity has gone out several times since Friday. Our computers are shutting off too. Is this a result of a class M flare?

Kiss Julia :)
If a huge storm magnetic arrives, it may entail a transformer outside of use. The alarm signal will be of aurorae boreales in the nights that precedes the judgment of the electrical system. Except if they have the intelligence to stop the central electric before ;)

[Rocky_Shorz]

I wonder if continuously increasing flare activities are the reason R2 is becoming a part of the space station...

http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/01/31/waiting_med.jpg


"For its first training sessions, R2 will be placed on a fixed pedestal for lessons on a task board. The board has switches, knobs, and connectors like the ones astronauts operate, and the crew will mock up chores for R2 to master."

Once the legs are added, the trainee will be able to move around inside the station, wiping handrails, vacuuming air filters, and doing other mundane tasks for the crew.

"Much like those of us down here on Earth, space station astronauts spend their Saturday mornings cleaning. R2's legs will give the crew their Saturday mornings back! It's all about making efficient use of the astronauts' time. They don't need to waste time doing simple stuff R2 can do."

The legs have special toes that plug into the space station walls so R2 can learn to climb without using its hands. "The hands must be free to carry cleaning supplies and tools," explains Ambrose. "Remember, robots don't have pockets to put things in."

http://science.nasa.gov/media/medialibrary/2011/01/31/faceoff_strip.jpg/image_full


But there's another reason for the climbing lessons. R2 must become an expert "no hands spiderman" before it can graduate to its most critical duties: performing EVAs.

"R2 will practice indoors first because if it falls off inside an astronaut can pick it back up for another try. With a misstep outside, R2 could end up dangling helplessly out in space on a tether."

Once the robot is climbing well, a new computer upgraded with software enhancements will be sent to station. The crew will exchange it with the one now in the R2's chest. The ground team is also working on a battery for R2. At present, the humanoid has to plug in like a lowly toaster.

"We want to give R2 more and more freedom, so we're eliminating the need for cords and cables." ...
NASA story (http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/31jan_r2/)

[Jean-Marie]

Here is a nice video about it.


http://www.youtube.com/user/thebarcaroller

[aikya]

These images from the HAARP induction magnometer show the intense acvitity today compared to a 'normal' graph on 25 Feb. I've observed this intense activity each time there are strong solar flares.

Link: http://137.229.36.30/cgi-bin/scmag/disp-scmag.cgi?date=20110225&Bx=on

This is not the worst I've seen it, but it is pretty intense nonetheless.