SPACE WEATHER

In September of 1859 the Earth was struck by a powerful solar flare that bombarded us with electromagnetic radiation. Known as the "Carrington Event" this historic event was little more than an inconvenience for the primarily analog people of 1859. But when we look to the American west, devastated by the effects of an electromagnetic pulse a fraction as powerful as the Carrington Event, we realize just how fragile our world is.

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The Department of the Exterior is committed to developing systems of detection and prevention to help secure America against a disaster of such magnitude that there would be no recovery. Our space weather program is critical to early detection and, eventually defense against such threats to our way of life.