Northern Lights Are Beautiful, but They’re Risky for Satellites

A significant geomagnetic storm, caused by two powerful coronal mass ejections from the sun, has impacted Earth, leading to the postponement of at least one space launch. Rocket Lab, a launch provider, has put its ESCAPADE mission, intended to send NASA spacecraft to Mars, on hold due to the elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the payloads. These solar storms, which manifest as visible auroras in night skies, pose risks to satellites orbiting Earth and those preparing for launch. The current solar activity is particularly concerning because it involves overlapping storms, which scientists like Daniel Baker from the University of Colorado Boulder's Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, note as historically being the most impactful for space weather. The sun operates on an 11-year cycle, and the period following its peak often sees an increase in solar flares and explosions. When these solar events are directed toward Earth, they create disturbances in the planet's magnetosphere, a protective shield against solar radiation. This disruption, known as a geomagnetic storm, can affect the operation of satellites, necessita... download the app to read more