Geostorm

Geostorm (also called Heliostorm) is a mission concept to monitor the solar wind for disturbances that lead to geomagnetic storms before they reach Earth. Spacecraft without solar sails, like NASA's Advanced Composition Explorer, provide ~30-60 minutes of warning by orbiting the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrange point. Solar sails would move this point closer to the Sun by counteracting solar gravity with sail thrust, possibly providing 1-2 hours warning. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

References

1. West, J L. Solar sail vehicle system design for the Geostorm Warning Mission. AIAA Space 2000 Conference and Exposition Long Beach, California, USA , 2000. BibTeX
2. Yen, CL. Solar sail geostorm warning mission design. 14th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, HI, February 8-12, 2004 , 2004. BibTeX
3. West, John L. The Geostorm Warning Mission: enhanced opportunities based on new technology. 14th AAS/AIAA Space Flight Mechanics Conference, Maui, HI, February 8-12, 2004 , 2004. BibTeX
4. Young, Roy M. Updated Heliostorm Warning Mission: Enhancements Based on New Technology. AIAA 2007-2249 48th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference 23 - 26 April 2007, Honolulu, Hawaii , 2007. BibTeX
5. Mulligan, Patricia. Solar Sails for the Operational Space Community. Spaceviews (8):3-4, August, 1998. BibTeX