Approaching Solar Storm Forces ISS to Take Cover

vichyschwa writes "A Coronal Mass Ejection resulting from an X3 Solar Flare earlier today is forcing the ISS and Shuttle astronauts to take cover and may result in communication disruptions. Last week, the same sunspot generated what astronomers described as a rarely imaged solar tsunami. The activity began with an X9 flare Dec. 5. According to Spaceweather.com, "satellites may experience some glitches and reboots, but astronauts are in no danger." However, the astronauts were ordered to a protective area of the space station as a precaution."

Comments

Why would they take cover?

[Anonymous Coward]

When they can get cool powers like the Fantastic Four?

Re:Why would they take cover?

[Anonymous Coward]

I for one welcome our new cosmically powered overlords!

Re:Why would they take cover?

[Samah]

Hell, anything that gives me a tightly-fitted-lycra-suit-clad Jessica Alba is alright in my books :)

BOFH - Solar Flares

[ServerIrv]

It's friday, so I get into work early, before lunch even. The phone rings. Shit!
I turn the page on the excuse sheet. "SOLAR FLARES" stares out at me. I'd better read up on that. Two minutes later I'm ready to answer the phone.
"Hello?" I say.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOU ALL MORNING?!"
I hate it when they shout at me early in the morning. It always puts me in a bad mood. You know what I mean.
"Ah, yes. Well, there's been some solar activity this morning, it always disrupts electronics..." I say, sweet as a sugar pie.
"Huh? But I could get through to my friends?!"
"Yes, that's entirely possible, solar activity is very unpredictable in it's effects. Why last week, we had some files just dissappear from a guys account while he was working on it!"
"Really?"
"Straight Up! Hey, do you want me to check your account?"
"Yes please, I've got some important stuff in there!"
"Ok, what's your username..."
He tells me. Honestly, it's like shooting a fish in a barrel. Twice. With an Elephant Gun. At point blank range. In the head.

Re:BOFH - Solar Flares

[djupedal]

Have you EVER shot at a fish in a barrel? Two times? With an elephant gun? At point blank range? In their shiny little slimy head?

Word to the wise. I'm here to tell you that you only need to do this once to appreciate the benefit of a good barrel when fish shooting. I mean, unless you have some pretty large fish (especially in the head area), and a pretty small caliber weapon, you are at risk of not only offing the fish, but you are also liable to put an NRA certified water-draining hole in your barrel. Now me, I use fish-shooting barrels from the Ukraine, and I've never had an issue with water stained carpets.

Try explaining it to your significant other when they get home. "Have you been discharging weapons inside the apartment, again...?" - "Don't we recall what happened when you put the dartboard up on the wall at the end of the hall and shot at it with your new Glock? That little-bitty bullet went thru the dart board and the wall and all four of your alpaca sweaters hanging up on that end of the closet...right?"

Oh dear

[Whiteout]

A Coronal Mass Ejection resulting from an X3 Solar Flare earlier today

Too much Mexican beer after a day on the beach, perhaps.

According to

[chanrobi]

CNN, the shuttle should be able to escape it! http://shogun.shafted.com.au/temp/cnnsucks.jpg

glitches for satellites, no danger for astronauts

[Anonymous Coward]

So why don't they make satellites out of the stuff astronauts are made of?

sweet!

[TheWart]

I would hate to be the guy that has to look like The Thing after this passes.

Err..

[malkir]

The only thing I'd want to 'take cover' of is a very particular part of my body which does not react well long-term to radiation. Think of the children!

Re:Look north tonight

[rs79]

Ok so I'm lookin north. I live where it's dark and far enough north the aurora is pretty good here.

But it's cloudy. And it'd gonna be cloudy all week.

Wadda rip.

Re:Fantastic four

[Columcille]

Then or than, that's a pretty small grammatical error, especially on Slashdot.

Re:I'm outa here!

[Anonymous Coward]

You sure about that?

For a moment there

[h2g2bob]

I thought it said "Approaching Solar Storm Forces IIS to Take Cover"

Oh well.

How this article should have gone....

[Anonymous Coward]

Approaching Solar Storm Forces! ISS to Take Cover!

Growing numbers of Solar Storm Troopers stationed
on Moon Base Alpha are said to be behind the recent
NASA announcement that the ISS shall relocate to the
dark side of the moon until further notice. The Solar
Empire has issued a statement to the effect that Moon
Base Alpha inhabitants are experiencing an increase
in crime thus necessitating the extra troops and denying
any suggestion of a planned station to station invasion.
The UN has called on the Solar Empire to withdraw
Storm Troopers from the region as quickly as possible
to avoid an incident.

Re:(OT)

[h4rm0ny]

Had a friend at university who used to throw knives and had a target drawn on his door. He was chucking a knife at it when his room mate walked in a fraction of a second after he'd thrown it. So we're all sitting there in stunned silence as this door swings shut behind him with a knife positioned right behind his head and he looks at us all and says "What's the matter with you lot?"

The difference between funny and death is very fine sometimes.

WikiSlashdot

[ThinkingInBinary]

Slashdot comments should be editable, like Wiki pages! Instead of posting irritating comments, Grammar Nazi(TM)'s could just edit the offending posts directly.

Re:WikiSlashdot

[glwtta]

Instead of posting irritating comments, Grammar Nazis(TM) could just edit the offending posts directly.

Re:glitches for satellites, no danger for astronau

[paving-slab]

So that's what happened to the White Dolphins from Yangtze River...