Nasa to study impact of 'space weather' on Earth

Mission proposals include analysis of sun's atmosphere and its unseen polar regions

Nasa is to fund concept studies on five mission proposals that aim to study the dynamic nature of the sun and the changing space environment this causes around Earth.

Such information will help understand how the space weather" affects satellites in orbit, which provide navigation and communications; technology on Earth, such as power stations; and the health of astronauts on interplanetary voyages.