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Space weather \u2018reporter\u2019 Vigil will be the world\u2019s first space weather mission to be permanently positioned at Lagrange point 5, a unique vantage point that allows us to see solar activity days before it reaches Earth. ESA\u2019s Vigil mission will be a dedicated operational space weather mission, sending data 24\/7 from deep space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vigil\u2019s tools as a space weather reporter at its unique location in deep space will drastically improve forecasting abilities. From there, Vigil can see \u2018around the corner\u2019 of the Sun and observe activity on the surface of the Sun days before it rotates into view from Earth. It can also watch the Sun-Earth line side-on, giving an earlier and clearer picture of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) heading toward Earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Radiation, plasma and particles flung towards Earth by the Sun can pose a very real risk to critical infrastructure our society relies on. This includes satellites for navigation, communications and banking services as well as power grids and radio communication on the ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A report by Lloyd\u2019s of London estimates that a severe space weather event, caused by such an outburst of solar activity, could cost the global economy 2.4 trillion dollars over five years.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
ESA\u2019s response to this growing threat is Vigil, a cornerstone mission of the Agency\u2019s Space Safety Programme, planned for launch in 2031. Vigil\u2019s data will give us drastically improved early warnings and forecasts, which in turn help protect satellites, astronauts and critical infrastructure on the ground that we all depend on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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