In May 2024, Earth was hit by the largest geomagnetic storm recorded in over 20 years.
The newstudyfocuses on how modern satellite constellations reacted to the May “solar superstorm.”
The last superstorm was recorded in 2003, but the population of LEO satellites has significantly increased since then.
Commercial space companies are now becoming the norm, and SpaceX frequentlydeploysnew satellites to maintain its space internet service.
During the October 2003 Halloween storm, there were no comparable changes in satellite maneuver activities in LEO.
An increase in orbital traffic could also have significant consequences for space debris currently re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
According to the study, thousands of non-functioning satellites lost several miles in altitude during the May storm.
