In a significant setback for solar research, servers that store crucial data from two key NASA solar observation satellites have gone offline following a flooding incident at the Joint Science Operations Center (JSOC) at Stanford University. This disruption was caused by a burst four-inch chilled water pipe, leaving the agency in the dark about when full operations will resume.

The incident occurred last Tuesday. The JSOC is vital for handling data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). Specifically, it processes data from two of SDO’s primary instruments: the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). As the water pooled in the server room, the center quickly mobilized resources to drain it, but drying the essential equipment was a complex task. Shockingly, they couldn’t simply hang the equipment out in the sun for drying!

An official mission blog post described the damage as “severe,” indicating that it will likely take until next year for a complete recovery. While NASA and Stanford have yet to disclose the full extent of the damage or which specific systems have been affected, the SDO regularly generates approximately 42TB of data monthly. This massive volume was more groundbreaking when the observatory launched in 2010 and presents a significant challenge in terms of storage capacity management if no upgrades have occurred since.

Despite the current unavailability of data, it is not lost. Even though processing has halted, data collection continues. For example, HMI data is being safely stored in New Mexico. However, the lack of access to real-time data hampers the ability to track space weather, generate space environment data products, and conduct mission planning effectively.

Meanwhile, the IRIS satellite, which launched in 2013 to study the flow of plasma into the sun’s corona and its impact on heliospheric dynamics, has managed to keep some of its near-real-time data accessible online. Fortunately, users can still access data gathered prior to November 22—the day the pipe burst–along with partial data from AIA and HMI from various other sources.

As scientists and researchers race to assess the damage and restore operations, this incident raises important questions about the resilience of vital research infrastructures. With climate change and solar activity having significant implications on Earth, the timely analysis and processing of solar data have never been more critical. Will NASA be able to overcome this disaster and continue its mission to unlock the mysteries of our closest star? Stay tuned for updates!