How Morrison Students are Collaborating with University of Michigan Researchers on a Groundbreaking NASA Solar Disturbance Study

Morrison High School students have embarked on an exciting journey into the world of space science. With just $500 antenna kits, they are playing a crucial role in a project that detects radio waves from solar disturbances. This initiative not only contributes scientific data to NASA but also helps protect satellites and astronauts from potentially dangerous solar storms.

The school’s involvement began in October 2023 when ten students joined forces with Ward “Chip” Manchester, a professor from the University of Michigan and a Morrison graduate, to set up an antenna on the school’s roof. The students enjoyed the hands-on experience. Their teacher, Gregg Dolan, who taught physics for 18 years, said astronomy wasn’t a common topic in their curriculum but that the students were eager to learn.

This antenna is part of the SunRISE Ground Radio Lab. This program invites students to use a radio telescope to listen to signals from space. The SunRISE mission, a collaboration between the University of Michigan and NASA, uses six small satellites to study low-frequency radio emissions from our sun. Understanding these emissions can reveal how solar storms form.

In 2018, NASA selected a proposal from the University of Michigan and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to kick off the SunRISE project. By 2020, students began designing and building ground antennas to support these satellites. Their success led NASA to involve high school students in the project. Now, they are collaborating with 18 high schools across the nation.

The antennas are specially designed to capture signals between 8 and 24 megahertz, frequencies linked to solar events like coronal mass ejections (CMEs). CMEs can release bursts of solar plasma that may disrupt communications and power grids on Earth. These antennas are a much cheaper alternative to previous models, which cost around $25,000 each.

The data collected aids scientists in understanding space weather. It acts as an early warning system for potential storms that could affect Earth. Interesting to note, the radio signals travel at the speed of light, often reaching us in just minutes, while the solar storms they indicate can take days to reach our planet.

Moreover, the National Weather Service explains that a CME releases solar plasma and magnetic fields, leading to geomagnetic storms that can cause significant disruptions on Earth. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the exact source of these radio signals, a key question for understanding solar phenomena.

There’s also a broader goal at play. The SunRISE program is designed to spark interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) among students. It prepares them for potential careers in these fields, which are growing in importance.

Michigan researchers believe these citizen-science activities help shape future innovators and problem solvers. As Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, the lead researcher, points out, programs like this use federal funding to educate young minds about the possibilities in science and engineering.

As of now, the SunRISE project is not just about research; it’s about inspiring the next generation. Schools interested in participating can join the effort at no cost, making it an opportunity worth exploring.

For more details about the SunRISE initiative, check their website here.

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