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| Lagrange would help estimate the arrival time of a solar storm |
This artist's concept is of a new weather satellite - but not the type of spacecraft that warns us of coming winds and rain.
These powerful eruptions of particles and magnetic fields can degrade communications and even knock over power grids.
The Lagrange satellite would see this "space weather" as it develops, alerting us to the impending disruption.
The pictured concept has been produced by the UK arm of European aerospace company Airbus, which has just finished its initial assessment of how to construct the mission.
Airbus is one of four groups that were asked to work through ideas by the European Space Agency (Esa).
Member state delegations to Esa's big ministerial meeting in late November will now be asked to fund the next phase of the project.