When AI Watches the Sun: How Russia Is Preparing to Forecast Space Weather

At the Intersection of Space and Artificial Intelligence

In the spring of 2026, a new scientific instrument called Solntse-Teragerts is set to be installed on the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The project, developed at the P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute, marks a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence with fundamental science. Its primary goal is not simply to observe the Sun, but to learn how to predict solar flares using machine learning algorithms.

As humanity becomes increasingly dependent on satellite technologies and space missions, the ability to detect solar activity in advance is no longer just a matter of scientific curiosity. It has become an issue of global security, with direct implications for communications, navigation, and the safety of astronauts.

AI as a Tool for Space Diagnostics

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections can disable satellites, disrupt communications, and even pose risks to human health in space. Traditional methods of analyzing solar activity data demand enormous amounts of time and computing power. This is where AI comes in. Neural networks can process terabytes of data in real time, identify hidden patterns, and classify potentially dangerous events much faster than conventional approaches.

Russian astronauts are already using domestic AI assistants, such as GigaChat, to systematize scientific observations. This signals a broader shift: artificial intelligence is no longer an exotic add-on but is becoming a routine working tool for researchers operating in space.

The frequencies at which the equipment will operate make it possible to penetrate deep into the Sun’s atmosphere, roughly 300 to 1,000 kilometers below the photosphere, and observe where a flare may begin to form

Vladimir Makhmutov

head of the Laboratory of Solar Physics and Cosmic Rays named after Academician S. N. Vernov, P. N. Lebedev Physical Institute

Russia in the Global Race to Predict Space Weather

Over the past five years, the global scientific community has been actively integrating AI into astrophysics. Agencies such as NASA and the European Space Agency have launched missions where machine learning is used to analyze spectral data and model solar dynamics. Russia is now joining this international trend, demonstrating its own capabilities in the field.

If successfully implemented, the Solntse-Teragerts project could strengthen the position of Russian scientists within global research networks and open the door to international collaboration on space weather monitoring. In practical terms, this would mean better shared forecasts of solar activity that affect satellite operators and space agencies worldwide.

Prospects and Challenges

Domestically, the project could become a catalyst for applying AI technologies across other scientific disciplines, from climatology to planetary science. At the same time, researchers face serious challenges. These include securing sufficient investment, gaining access to international datasets needed to train AI models, and competing with leading global agencies in a highly dynamic field.

There is also the issue of validation. Any AI model must be rigorously tested. An incorrect forecast of a solar flare could have tangible consequences, from unnecessary satellite shutdowns to missed warnings of real threats.

The Science of the Future Is Already Here

The Solntse-Teragerts project is more than just the installation of a new instrument on the ISS. It symbolizes a shift in Russian science toward a new paradigm in which artificial intelligence becomes a co-author of discovery.

If the project proceeds as planned, its results could form the basis of international early-warning systems for space hazards within the next few years.

That would mean that the next time we rely on GPS navigation or receive data from weather satellites, their reliability may rest not only on human expertise, but also on algorithms that have learned to read the language of the Sun.