How can solar wind affect astronauts?

The term "solar wind" refers to the sun's continuous emission of different types of radiation, including visible light, gamma, infrared, ultraviolet, and x-rays. Under normal circumstances, astronauts are well-protected from these emissions by their space suits and the spacecraft itself, though the latter is subject to time constraints because no protection is impenetrable.

When the sun suddenly ejects a large amount of radiation, known as a CME (corona mass ejection), astronauts must stay inside their spacecraft because exposure to the outside world would probably be fatal.

Astronauts outside of Earth's magnetic field, such as those on missions to the Moon or Mars, are particularly vulnerable to the effects of solar wind. Solar wind can interact with spacecraft and disrupt their electronic systems, potentially causing malfunctions or failures. It can also expose astronauts to increased radiation levels and pose health risks, such as DNA damage and an increased risk of cancer.