NASA has postponed a space launch due to a “cannibal” solar storm that could also disrupt GPS, communication systems and power grids.
The British Geological Survey (BGS) upgraded its forecast to the maximum and said the ongoing storm had already interfered with communications and satellite navigation.
It said the storm could feed off another one, becoming a “cannibal storm” – one of the biggest in 20 years – and reaching Britain this afternoon.
Blue Origin – the space tech company founded by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos – was due to launch its rocket, New Glenn, today.
The mission was set to take two Mars-bound NASA spacecraft, called ESCAPADE, into the cosmos.
Announcing the postponement on Twitter, Blue Origin said: “New Glenn is ready to launch.
“However, due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the ESCAPADE spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve.
“We are currently assessing opportunities to establish our next launch window based on forecasted space weather and range availability.”
