Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
NASA is set to launch the STORIE (Storm Time O+ Ring current Imaging Evolution) mission aboard the 34th SpaceX commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station (ISS). STORIE will be robotically installed on the exterior of the ISS, where it will observe Earth’s ring current to help scientists study its evolution and particle composition.
The ring current is an invisible, doughnut-shaped accumulation of electrically charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. This region plays a significant role in how Earth responds to space weather, impacting critical technologies such as satellites and power grids.
During solar storms, the ring current undergoes dramatic changes in size, shape, and intensity. Positively and negatively charged particles in the ring current flow in opposite directions, generating electrical currents that can cause magnetic fluctuations and induce currents on Earth's surface. These effects may impact infrastructure such as pipelines and power lines.
An energized ring current can also cause charging on satellites, potentially triggering spacecraft glitches. Energy from the ring current may heat and expand the upper atmosphere, increasing drag on satellites and potentially shortening their operational lifetimes.
Because the particles in the ring current are invisible, STORIE will examine energetic neutral atoms (ENAs), which form when charged particles interact and become neutralized. By detecting these ENAs, STORIE will provide a unique way to image and analyze the ring current's behavior.
This mission is part of the Space Test Program – Houston 11 (STP-H11), a collaborative effort between NASA and the U.S. Space Force.