From a thesis in Latin America to the solar orbit: NASA will use a young scientist’s work to unravel the secrets of space weather.
It’s not common for a doctoral thesis to cross the threshold of academia and become a central piece of a space mission. But that’s exactly what just happened with the work of a Peruvian space physicist, whose research will be used by NASA in three key missions launched on September 24, 2025. The goal: to understand the solar wind and how this invisible flow can alter life on Earth.
### Three satellites to monitor the Sun
The launch took place from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. The payload was anything but routine: the Ionospheric Connection Explorer, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, and the Space Weather Follow On–Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) satellite. All three will share a strategic destination: the L1 point, located 1.6 million kilometers from our planet, where the gravitational balance allows for early observation of solar storms.
Each instrument will play a complementary role. ICE will study how space weather affects Earth’s ionosphere; SWFO-L1 will measure the density and speed of the solar wind in real time; and Carruthers, where Cucho Padín’s thesis comes into play, will focus on the geocorona, the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere.
### The Peruvian contribution that will make history
Cucho Padín introduced new methods to estimate hydrogen density in the exosphere and applied tomographic analysis techniques to reconstruct invisible dynamics. Now, these techniques will be used to process images captured from space and understand how the geocorona absorbs and releases energy during extreme solar events.
“It is my thesis that will be used to process these images and understand a little bit about the Earth’s atmosphere. I am very proud that this small contribution will be used for high-level projects, especially by NASA,” the scientist declared to the Andina agency.
### Risks on Earth: from GPS to power grids
Solar storms pose risks to Earth’s technological infrastructure. Their charged particles can disrupt satellite communications, distort GPS signals, interrupt internet transmissions, and even cause blackouts in power grids. Past events have shown their devastating effects on infrastructures.
With the data from these missions, scientists aim to better predict and mitigate these risks. In the realm of space, there is also a focus on protecting astronauts from solar radiation when they venture beyond Earth’s magnetosphere.
Beyond technological infrastructure, science becomes a transformative tool for the world’s most influential space agency. For Cucho Padín, it is proof that “doing science will always bring something positive, not only for our community, but for humanity.”
The mission will initially last two years, but its data could be used for decades to come. With this information, not only will the effects of solar wind be better understood, but the groundwork will be laid for future Earth defenses and manned missions beyond low orbit.
The message is clear: science can originate anywhere in the world, but its impact can be felt all over the planet… and beyond.
