The History of Cosmic Ray Studies
1980 - 1989
- 1980
Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) was launched - USA solar probe - It was designed to provide coordinated observations of solar activity, in particular solar flares, during a period of maximum solar activity. The spacecraft suffered an on-orbit failure. A repair mission on STS-41C in 1984, during which shuttle astronauts rendezvoused with SMM, was successful. SMM collected data until Nov. 24, 1989.- 1985
- The atomic force microscope, able to identify individual atoms, is
invented by Gerd Binning
- 1987
- A supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud was visible to the naked eye.
- 1989
- Major solar activity caused a geomagnetic storm that resulted in a
blackout in Quebec affecting over 6 million customers. Aurorae were
seen as far south as Florida.
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A service of the Heliophysics
Science Division at NASA's GSFC
Questions and comments to: cosmicopia@cosmicra.gsfc.nasa.gov
Curator: Dr Eric R. Christian, NASA
Responsible NASA Official: Dr Eric R. Christian
Privacy Policy and Important Notices
Questions and comments to: cosmicopia@cosmicra.gsfc.nasa.gov
Curator: Dr Eric R. Christian, NASA
Responsible NASA Official: Dr Eric R. Christian
Privacy Policy and Important Notices
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