Someone detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 2100, when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 6 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

#Coronal Mass Ejection

This story is a lot simpler. "Coronal Mass Ejection detected", said the voice on the loudspeaker as the alarm lights flashed yellow, "estimated bow shock arrival time is 11 hours. All spaceflights have been secured. All station personnel report to emergency radiation shelters. All passengers report to your carrier information desk to find your designated shelter spot. "

Someone detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 2100, when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 6 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

Coronal Mass Ejection

This story is a lot simpler. "Coronal Mass Ejection detected", said the voice on the loudspeaker as the alarm lights flashed yellow, "estimated bow shock arrival time is 11 hours. All spaceflights have been secured. All station personnel report to emergency radiation shelters. All passengers report to your carrier information desk to find your designated shelter spot. "

Radar detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 100 years when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 3 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

#Coronal Mass Ejection

This story is a lot simpler. "Coronal Mass Ejection detected", said the voice on the loudspeaker as the alarm lights flashed yellow, "estimated bow shock arrival time is 11 hours. All spaceflights have been secured. All station personnel report to emergency radiation shelters. All passengers report to your carrier information desk to find your designated shelter spot. "

Someone detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 2100, when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 6 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

#Coronal Mass Ejection

This story is a lot simpler. "Coronal Mass Ejection detected", said the voice on the loudspeaker as the alarm lights flashed yellow, "estimated bow shock arrival time is 11 hours. All spaceflights have been secured. All station personnel report to emergency radiation shelters. All passengers report to your carrier information desk to find your designated shelter spot. "

Radar detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 100 years when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 3 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

Radar detected an asteroid

There are lots of small asteroids. Even in 100 years when the solar system is well mapped, carbonaceous asteroids with low albedo will be very hard to detect passively. Further, radar is relatively ineffective for scanning the vast distances between Earth and Mars.

A few hours before scheduled departure, a freighter coasting to Mars detects a small 100m asteroid on passive IR, and reports to the Solar Coast Guard. A notice-to-mariners is sent out to all ships in the inner solar system. Most flights are unaffected but Martian Spacelines delays a scheduled burn in 3 hours time for an Earth to Mars transit due to uncertainty about the asteroid's whereabouts. Given that their ship intends to burn once and then coast for months, it is very costly to have to make a course correction mid-flight. Since the passengers were still in the terminal, they delayed boarding to prevent unnecessary waiting.

The Solar Coast Guard contacts Traffic control Mars (TCM) to update the asteroid. TCM fires up the phased array on the nearest deep-space radar station and detects the asteroid. After an hour of study, they have a confident plot of its course, and release another notice-to-mariners.

Martian Spacelines re-checks the nav plot, confirms the asteroid is not a problem, and boards the flight, 8 hours late. Not really a big deal, given the months of travel time.

#Coronal Mass Ejection

This story is a lot simpler. "Coronal Mass Ejection detected", said the voice on the loudspeaker as the alarm lights flashed yellow, "estimated bow shock arrival time is 11 hours. All spaceflights have been secured. All station personnel report to emergency radiation shelters. All passengers report to your carrier information desk to find your designated shelter spot. "