It may surprise you to learn that when the Sun has an outburst, such as a solar flare or a giant eruption of charged gas called a coronal mass ejection (CME), it threatens the health and safety of astronauts or satellites in space. These events also send out invisible shock waves that can disrupt power grids and communications here on Earth. These shock waves produce special radio signals that can be detected from the ground with simple radio antennas.
The Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE) space mission comprises an array of six toaster-size CubeSats that will work together to study solar activity, observing low radio frequency emissions so scientists can understand better how the Sun is able to generate intense space weather storms that can be hazardous to Earth technologies. The SunRISE Ground Radio Lab (GRL) project is a NASA-supported effort led by the University of Michigan. The project engages students at high schools across the U.S. and involves them in cutting-edge space weather research. The students receive free radio receivers to monitor the Sun’s radio emissions and help warn us about storms headed our way.
Figure 1. Example type II solar radio burst from the SunRISE GRL Dynamic Spectra, observed on April 23, 2024. Panel (a) and (b) show the burst at two different antenna sites, and (c) shows a simultaneous burst observed by a satellite instrument for comparison.
Why solar radio bursts?
Solar radio bursts or SBRs are natural “broadcasts” from our closest star, often linked to violent activity. Different types of bursts tell us about different solar events. Type II SRBs, in particular, are created when a CME shockwave plows through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, accelerating particles to high speeds.
By monitoring these signals, scientists can estimate how fast a shock is moving, how powerful it is, and even how the Sun’s magnetic field is behaving in regions we can’t see. This information is crucial for predicting when disturbances might reach Earth and potentially cause disruptions to our technology here on Earth.
A nation-wide antenna network
SunRISE GRL program has distributed simple dual dipole radio antennas to 18 high schools across the country, from small towns in Michigan to schools in Florida and Puerto Rico. Students learn to build, calibrate, and operate these antennas, then upload their observations to a growing database.
Figure 2. High school students at CROEM High School in Boqueron, Puerto Rico install a SunRISE GRL antenna on their campus to listen to the Sun.
This approach helps to advance science, but also teaches students valuable skills in technology, teamwork, and the scientific method. Many students are inspired to pursue careers in sciences and engineering upon participating in our program.
Real-world space weather in action
In April 2024, a powerful CME sent shockwaves racing across the Sun and toward Earth. SunRISE GRL antennas in Michigan detected the resulting Type II radio burst at multiple schools. It turned out that these ground-based observations coincided with a satellite in space picking up similar signals. By comparing data from different locations and frequencies, the team was able to estimate the speed and power of the CME shock. The event was linked to a moderate geomagnetic storm and the student-collected data helped confirm official warnings.
The science and impact
Preliminary SunRISE GRL results show that school radio antennas captured the onset of solar storms up to 48 hours before effects reached Earth. Parameters measured by students, including how quickly radio burst frequencies drift and the strength of the radio signals, were used to model the speed and strength of solar shocks and the Sun’s magnetic field. To learn more, please visit our study titled “SunRISE Ground Radio Lab: Monitoring Solar Radio Bursts With an Expansive Array of Antennae at High Schools Nationwide” published in Journal of Earth and Space Science https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024EA004114
All data is curated into a public catalog that scientists and students worldwide can access and use for further research or space weather prediction.
Conclusions
The SunRISE GRL program is blending traditional learning and hands-on NASA science giving high schoolers a chance to meaningfully contribute to our understanding of the Sun. With events like the 2024 CME and ongoing solar activity, the project continues to show that with a simple, yet expansive, network of radio antennas and some curiosity, students can help keep watch over space weather and help protect our planet.
If your school is interested in getting involved, visit the SunRISE GRL website.
Additional info
For more information on the SunRISE space mission and education materials, visit the SunRISE GRL project page.
References
Akhavan‐Tafti, M., Soni, S.L., Higgins, C., Fung, S., Lepri, S., Lux, J., Lazio, J. and Romero‐Wolf, A., 2025. SunRISE ground radio lab: Monitoring solar radio bursts with an expansive array of antennae at high schools nationwide. Earth and Space Science, 12(6), p.e2024EA004114. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024EA004114
This nugget is based on work sponsored by NASA and performed at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. For details or to participate, contact us via the SunRISE GRL Contact Page.