Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Rosgidromet) is creating a national system for monitoring the space weather. The system will include a special flying laboratory. 

      Space weather can be described as changing environmental conditions of the Earth under the influence of particles emanating from the sun (solar wind). These particles can cause magnetic storms, auroras, which in turn can have an impact on people's health and the performance of techological systems.

      Rosgidromet is developing 12 kinds of monitoring land, air and space including a special system based on the geophysical rocket MR-30 and a flying laboratory based on the airplane Yak-42.

      The weather rocket will be used by meteorologists for quick monitoring the upper atmosphere.

      The information will be received by Rosgidromet online.

      Source: RIA Novosti. Image courtesy: www.agu.org.