#magnetosphere — Public Fediverse posts

After cooperation on SMILE mission, ESA and China chart parallel but separate paths

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/after-cooperation-on-smile-mission-esa-and-china-chart-parallel-but-separate-paths/

In 1946, Walter M. Elsasser explained that convection in Earth’s outer core creates the magnetosphere. #Poetry #Science #History #Electromagnetism #Earth_science #Magnetosphere #Elsasser (https://sharpgiving.com/Sharp/thebookofscience/items/p1946c.html)

In 1946, Walter M. Elsasser explained that convection in Earth’s outer core creates the magnetosphere. #Poetry #Science #History #Electromagnetism #Earth_science #Magnetosphere #Elsasser (https://sharpgiving.com/Sharp/thebookofscience/items/p1946c.html)

👹🔴 Researchers from #Hokkaido University and the #Okinawa Institute of #Science and #Technology analyzed five auroral events over #Japan from June 2024 to March 2025, combining satellite #data with #photos from citizen skywatchers.

They found that red #auroras reached unusually high altitudes (500-800 km) during #storms previously classified as moderate, suggesting #solar activity may be stronger than standard measurements indicate. The findings have practical implications for #satellites in low #Earth orbit, because heated upper #atmosphere expands and creates extra drag on #spacecraft.

👉 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260521072359.htm

#weather #magnetosphere #science #geophysics #space #ionosphere

👹🔴 Researchers from #Hokkaido University and the #Okinawa Institute of #Science and #Technology analyzed five auroral events over #Japan from June 2024 to March 2025, combining satellite #data with #photos from citizen skywatchers.

They found that red #auroras reached unusually high altitudes (500-800 km) during #storms previously classified as moderate, suggesting #solar activity may be stronger than standard measurements indicate. The findings have practical implications for #satellites in low #Earth orbit, because heated upper #atmosphere expands and creates extra drag on #spacecraft.

👉 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260521072359.htm

#weather #magnetosphere #science #geophysics #space #ionosphere

Map of the August 12, 2026, Total Solar Eclipse 🌑

#ColumbusModule #Eclipse #Falcon9Rocket #GeomagneticStorm #ISS #InternationalSpaceStation #Launch #Magnetosphere

⏩ 2 new pictures and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=4&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260523125554

Map of the August 12, 2026, Total Solar Eclipse 🌑

#ColumbusModule #Eclipse #Falcon9Rocket #GeomagneticStorm #ISS #InternationalSpaceStation #Launch #Magnetosphere

⏩ 2 new pictures and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=4&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260523125554

#TachyonBeam #SpaceMission #ESA #China #magnetosphere #SolarWind #launch #VegaC

A few hours ago, the Smile satellite was launched from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana atop a Vega-C rocket. After about 56 minutes, the Smile satellite separated from the rocket's last stage and began maneuvers that are scheduled to last approximately 25 days.

https://english.tachyonbeam.com/2026/05/19/a-success-for-the-launch-of-the-smile-satellite-to-study-how-the-earths-magnetosphere-responds-to-the-solar-wind/

RE: https://fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/116597943953403803

New #space mission #SMILE will launch today (May 19, 7:52 UTC). The #SolarWind #Magnetosphere #Ionosphere Link Explorer, a collaboration between #ESA and the #Chinese Academy of Sciences #CAS, will study #Earth‘s #magnetosphere in soft X-rays and #UV to better understand the dynamic interaction between both.

#SpacePhysics #SolarSystem #SpaceMission

RE: https://fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/116597943953403803

New #space mission #SMILE will launch today (May 19, 7:52 UTC). The #SolarWind #Magnetosphere #Ionosphere Link Explorer, a collaboration between #ESA and the #Chinese Academy of Sciences #CAS, will study #Earth‘s #magnetosphere in soft X-rays and #UV to better understand the dynamic interaction between both.

#SpacePhysics #SolarSystem #SpaceMission

ESA-China SMILE mission lifts off to deliver first global images of Earth’s magnetosphere

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/esa-china-smile-mission-lifts-off-to-deliver-first-global-images-of-earths-magnetosphere/

Vega C set to launch SMILE to study Earth’s magnetosphere
https://atlas.whatip.xyz/post.php?slug=vega-c-set-to-launch-smile-to-study-earths-magnetosphere
<p>The European Space Agency’s (ESA) latest science mission
#magnetosphere #launch #smile #study

Joint ESA-China SMILE mission set for launch to study Earth’s magnetic shield

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://spacenews.com/joint-esa-china-smile-mission-set-for-launch-to-study-earths-magnetic-shield/

Russian Nuclear Blast In Space — When Kremlin Blasted 300 KT Of Warhead Over Kazakhstan, Displaying The Power Of EMP Attack

By Shubhangi Palve -
December 17, 2024

"Could nuclear warheads wipe out thousands of satellites orbiting Earth? This concept, once explored by the Soviet Union, has resurfaced amid rising geopolitical tensions, raising alarms about the dawn of a new era in space warfare.

"On February 5, 2022, Russia launched #Kosmos2553, which settled into a remote orbit 1,240 miles above Earth—higher than most operational satellites.

"While it appears unassuming, #Cosmos2553 represents a chilling advancement in Russia’s potential to threaten military and commercial satellites using nuclear blasts in space.

"Since its deployment, U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs has kept a vigilant eye on Cosmos 2553.

"In February 2024, the White House publicly acknowledged the satellite as part of a 'troubling' Russian anti-satellite weapon program. While officials clarified it posed no direct physical threat to Earth, its potential to devastate critical satellite networks has raised alarms.

Orbit Of Concern: The Graveyard

"Cosmos 2553 orbits in a region called the #GraveyardOrbit, circling Earth every two hours. Just inside the highly radioactive #VanAllenBelts, this area is sparsely populated—only about 10 defunct satellites are out there.

"Yet, U.S. officials suggest Cosmos 2553 is a testbed for a weapon capable of obliterating hundreds, if not thousands, of satellites, which could cripple global communications and defense infrastructure.

History Of Nuclear Weapons In Space

"Both the United States and the Soviet Union experimented with nuclear detonations in space during the 1960s. These tests aimed to understand how nuclear weapons behaved in the upper atmosphere and beyond, often with unforeseen and catastrophic effects.

"The U.S. conducted 11 tests under #OperationFishbowl, with the most famous, #StarfishPrime, detonating 250 miles above the Pacific Ocean in 1962. The blast knocked out radio systems and power grids in Hawaii, leaving a trail of #radiation lingering in Earth’s #magnetosphere for years.

"Meanwhile, the Soviets carried out #ProjectK, a series of nuclear tests between 1961 and 1962. These experiments further highlighted the potential for nuclear weapons to wreak havoc in orbit—generating electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) that could disable satellites and disrupt global systems.

"In this article, we examine the Soviet Project K tests in-depth, exploring how they shaped the early days of space warfare and their lasting implications for today’s emerging threats."

Read more:
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/project-k-can-nuclear-warheads-destroy-satellites-in-orbit/

#NukesInSpace #NoNukesInSpace
#LEO #KesslerEffect #KesslerSyndrome
#NoNukes #NoWar #NuclearWeapons #Satellites

Russian Nuclear Blast In Space — When Kremlin Blasted 300 KT Of Warhead Over Kazakhstan, Displaying The Power Of EMP Attack

By Shubhangi Palve -
December 17, 2024

"Could nuclear warheads wipe out thousands of satellites orbiting Earth? This concept, once explored by the Soviet Union, has resurfaced amid rising geopolitical tensions, raising alarms about the dawn of a new era in space warfare.

"On February 5, 2022, Russia launched #Kosmos2553, which settled into a remote orbit 1,240 miles above Earth—higher than most operational satellites.

"While it appears unassuming, #Cosmos2553 represents a chilling advancement in Russia’s potential to threaten military and commercial satellites using nuclear blasts in space.

"Since its deployment, U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs has kept a vigilant eye on Cosmos 2553.

"In February 2024, the White House publicly acknowledged the satellite as part of a 'troubling' Russian anti-satellite weapon program. While officials clarified it posed no direct physical threat to Earth, its potential to devastate critical satellite networks has raised alarms.

Orbit Of Concern: The Graveyard

"Cosmos 2553 orbits in a region called the #GraveyardOrbit, circling Earth every two hours. Just inside the highly radioactive #VanAllenBelts, this area is sparsely populated—only about 10 defunct satellites are out there.

"Yet, U.S. officials suggest Cosmos 2553 is a testbed for a weapon capable of obliterating hundreds, if not thousands, of satellites, which could cripple global communications and defense infrastructure.

History Of Nuclear Weapons In Space

"Both the United States and the Soviet Union experimented with nuclear detonations in space during the 1960s. These tests aimed to understand how nuclear weapons behaved in the upper atmosphere and beyond, often with unforeseen and catastrophic effects.

"The U.S. conducted 11 tests under #OperationFishbowl, with the most famous, #StarfishPrime, detonating 250 miles above the Pacific Ocean in 1962. The blast knocked out radio systems and power grids in Hawaii, leaving a trail of #radiation lingering in Earth’s #magnetosphere for years.

"Meanwhile, the Soviets carried out #ProjectK, a series of nuclear tests between 1961 and 1962. These experiments further highlighted the potential for nuclear weapons to wreak havoc in orbit—generating electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) that could disable satellites and disrupt global systems.

"In this article, we examine the Soviet Project K tests in-depth, exploring how they shaped the early days of space warfare and their lasting implications for today’s emerging threats."

Read more:
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/project-k-can-nuclear-warheads-destroy-satellites-in-orbit/

#NukesInSpace #NoNukesInSpace
#LEO #KesslerEffect #KesslerSyndrome
#NoNukes #NoWar #NuclearWeapons #Satellites

The Ring Current in Earth's Magnetosphere ✨

#AllSkyImaging #Ast #Astrophysics #Exoplanet #Galaxy #Magnetosphere #RingCurrent #Space

⏩ 2 new pictures and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=10&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260514125724

The Ring Current in Earth's Magnetosphere ✨

#AllSkyImaging #Ast #Astrophysics #Exoplanet #Galaxy #Magnetosphere #RingCurrent #Space

⏩ 2 new pictures and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=10&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260514125724

NASA Experiment to Track Space ‘Doughnut’ Encircling Earth 🌑

#ColumbusModule #GeomagneticStorm #Heliophysics #ISS #InternationalSpaceStation #Magnetosphere #Moon #NeutralAtomImaging

⏩ 4 new pictures and 3 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=12&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260502130226

NASA Experiment to Track Space ‘Doughnut’ Encircling Earth 🌑

#ColumbusModule #GeomagneticStorm #Heliophysics #ISS #InternationalSpaceStation #Magnetosphere #Moon #NeutralAtomImaging

⏩ 4 new pictures and 3 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=12&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260502130226

Le rôle clé de la magnétosphère dans l'architecture des satellites de Jupiter et Saturne
https://www.ca-se-passe-la-haut.fr/2026/04/le-role-cle-de-la-magnetosphere-dans.html
#astronomie #astrophysique #science #cosmologie #Jupiter #Saturne #lunes #planète #magnétosphère #satellite

Le rôle clé de la magnétosphère dans l'architecture des satellites de Jupiter et Saturne
https://www.ca-se-passe-la-haut.fr/2026/04/le-role-cle-de-la-magnetosphere-dans.html
#astronomie #astrophysique #science #cosmologie #Jupiter #Saturne #lunes #planète #magnétosphère #satellite

✨🔭 Interesting news from outer space: #Cassini data plus global #MHD #simulations show that #Saturn’s cusp is not noon-centered like #Earth’s, but shifted toward the post-noon and even post-dusk sector. Xu, Yao, & Arridge et al. identify 67 cusp events and argue that rapid rotation plus internal #plasma sources fundamentally reshape Saturn’s global magnetic topology:

📝 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69666-9

#SpacePhysics #PlanetaryScience #Magnetosphere

✨🔭 Interesting news from outer space: #Cassini data plus global #MHD #simulations show that #Saturn’s cusp is not noon-centered like #Earth’s, but shifted toward the post-noon and even post-dusk sector. Xu, Yao, & Arridge et al. identify 67 cusp events and argue that rapid rotation plus internal #plasma sources fundamentally reshape Saturn’s global magnetic topology:

📝 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69666-9

#SpacePhysics #PlanetaryScience #Magnetosphere

🛰️ New paper by Knowles et al.: Using the #JWST, the authors observed rapid variability in the auroral footprints of #Jupiter’s #moons in Jupiter’s #atmosphere.

IR observations show that the footprints of moons like #Io can change on short timescales, highlighting the dynamic interaction between Jupiter’s #magnetosphere and its satellites. The moon–magnetosphere coupling driving Jupiter’s #aurora is more variable than previously assumed.

📄https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL118553

#SpacePhysics #PlanetaryScience

🛰️ New paper by Knowles et al.: Using the #JWST, the authors observed rapid variability in the auroral footprints of #Jupiter’s #moons in Jupiter’s #atmosphere.

IR observations show that the footprints of moons like #Io can change on short timescales, highlighting the dynamic interaction between Jupiter’s #magnetosphere and its satellites. The moon–magnetosphere coupling driving Jupiter’s #aurora is more variable than previously assumed.

📄https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL118553

#SpacePhysics #PlanetaryScience

Artemis II: Sending Humans Beyond the Magnetosphere 🌑🧑‍🚀

#Artemis #Magnetosphere #MannedSpaceFlight #Moon #RadiationExposure #SolarWind #SpaceWeather #SunEarthMoonInteractions

⏩ 1 new picture and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=2&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260306125534

Artemis II: Sending Humans Beyond the Magnetosphere 🌑🧑‍🚀

#Artemis #Magnetosphere #MannedSpaceFlight #Moon #RadiationExposure #SolarWind #SpaceWeather #SunEarthMoonInteractions

⏩ 1 new picture and 1 new video from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=2&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260306125534

✨🔭 New observations of #Ganymede 🌖reveal a surprising similarity between the #auroras 🌌 on the #SolarSystem's largest #moon and those on #Earth 🌍. A team of space physicists has obtained new results suggesting that the fundamental physical processes that generate auroras are common to different celestial bodies.

🌍 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400351529_Juno's_high-spatial-resolution_ultraviolet_observations_of_Ganymede's_auroral_patches_Constraints_on_the_magnetospheric_source_region

#auroq #SpacePhysics #Jupiter #PlasmaPhysics #Juno #JunoSpacecraft #magnetosphere

Thanks @Umbertogaetani for sharing 🙏 https://mastodon.uno/@Umbertogaetani/116113873863038999

✨🔭 New observations of #Ganymede 🌖reveal a surprising similarity between the #auroras 🌌 on the #SolarSystem's largest #moon and those on #Earth 🌍. A team of space physicists has obtained new results suggesting that the fundamental physical processes that generate auroras are common to different celestial bodies.

🌍 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/400351529_Juno's_high-spatial-resolution_ultraviolet_observations_of_Ganymede's_auroral_patches_Constraints_on_the_magnetospheric_source_region

#auroq #SpacePhysics #Jupiter #PlasmaPhysics #Juno #JunoSpacecraft #magnetosphere

Thanks @Umbertogaetani for sharing 🙏 https://mastodon.uno/@Umbertogaetani/116113873863038999

Using joint observations from the #Tianwen-1 in the #solarwind and #MAVEN in the induced #magnetosphere, Lin et al. identified a magnetic barrier between #Mars’ #ionosphere and shocked solar wind under the radial #IMF for the first time.

📄 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2026.101312

#SpacePhysics #PlasmaPhysics #SolarSystem

Using joint observations from the #Tianwen-1 in the #solarwind and #MAVEN in the induced #magnetosphere, Lin et al. identified a magnetic barrier between #Mars’ #ionosphere and shocked solar wind under the radial #IMF for the first time.

📄 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2026.101312

#SpacePhysics #PlasmaPhysics #SolarSystem

Viewing an Exoplanet Transmission Spectrum 🛰️

#Exoplanet #ExoplanetAtmospheres #Fleet #Heliopause #Heliophysics #Heliosphere #Magnetopause #Magnetosphere

⏩ 3 new pictures and 3 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=22&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260128125704

Viewing an Exoplanet Transmission Spectrum 🛰️

#Exoplanet #ExoplanetAtmospheres #Fleet #Heliopause #Heliophysics #Heliosphere #Magnetopause #Magnetosphere

⏩ 3 new pictures and 3 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=22&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20260128125704

#MachineLearning anlysis of 20 years of in situ measurements in the #Earth's #magnetosphere brings new insights on #MagneticReconnection processes:

📄 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL119118

#SpacePhysics #Plasma #PlasmaPhysics #SolarWind #Reconnection @irap https://social.numerique.gouv.fr/@irap/115966776951772619

#MachineLearning anlysis of 20 years of in situ measurements in the #Earth's #magnetosphere brings new insights on #MagneticReconnection processes:

📄 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL119118

#SpacePhysics #Plasma #PlasmaPhysics #SolarWind #Reconnection @irap https://social.numerique.gouv.fr/@irap/115966776951772619

[#Magnetic reconnection] In the Earth's space environment, it connects the interplanetary and terrestrial magnetic fields, allowing #plasma from the #SolarWind to penetrate the #magnetosphere, which is otherwise confined.

The use of machine learning algorithms has enabled the analysis of 20 years of data measured in situ by four different space missions in the Earth's magnetosphere... and confirmed the necessary speed of the magnetic reconnection process: https://www.irap.omp.eu/en/2026/01/magnetic-reconnection-models-validated-by-analysis-of-twenty-years-of-measurements/

[#Magnetic reconnection] In the Earth's space environment, it connects the interplanetary and terrestrial magnetic fields, allowing #plasma from the #SolarWind to penetrate the #magnetosphere, which is otherwise confined.

The use of machine learning algorithms has enabled the analysis of 20 years of data measured in situ by four different space missions in the Earth's magnetosphere... and confirmed the necessary speed of the magnetic reconnection process: https://www.irap.omp.eu/en/2026/01/magnetic-reconnection-models-validated-by-analysis-of-twenty-years-of-measurements/

[#Reconnexion magnétique] Dans l'environnement spatial terrestre, elle connecte les champs magnétiques interplanétaire et terrestre, laissant pénétrer le #plasma du #VentSolaire dans la #magnetosphere

L'utilisation d’#algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique a permis l'analyse de 20 années de #données mesurées in situ par 4 missions spatiales différentes dans la magnétosphère terrestre ... et confirmé la nécessaire rapidité du processus de reconnexion magnétique : https://www.irap.omp.eu/2026/01/les-modeles-de-la-reconnexion-magnetique-valides-par-lanalyse-de-vingt-ans-de-mesures/

[#Reconnexion magnétique] Dans l'environnement spatial terrestre, elle connecte les champs magnétiques interplanétaire et terrestre, laissant pénétrer le #plasma du #VentSolaire dans la #magnetosphere

L'utilisation d’#algorithmes d’apprentissage automatique a permis l'analyse de 20 années de #données mesurées in situ par 4 missions spatiales différentes dans la magnétosphère terrestre ... et confirmé la nécessaire rapidité du processus de reconnexion magnétique : https://www.irap.omp.eu/2026/01/les-modeles-de-la-reconnexion-magnetique-valides-par-lanalyse-de-vingt-ans-de-mesures/

Record #SolarSuperstorm shrank Earth’s plasma shield 78%, #GPS at risk

Story by Alexander Clark, 12/1/2025

Excerpt: "Why this storm is a warning shot for the #SatelliteEconomy

"Even without a total collapse of the magnetosphere, the recent superstorm delivered a clear warning to the satellite industry. Constellations in low Earth orbit [#LEO], such as #SpaceX’s #Starlink or #OneWeb, already have to contend with atmospheric drag and radiation, but they usually operate well inside the magnetosphere’s protection. When the plasma shield shrinks, those satellites face a double challenge: increased drag from a heated upper atmosphere and a more hostile radiation environment that can degrade electronics and solar panels. The event that compressed Earth’s shield by nearly 80 percent effectively stress-tested the assumptions behind the rapid expansion of commercial space infrastructure, a point underscored in analyses of how a solar storm can threaten satellites when the magnetosphere is squeezed.

"For operators of navigation, communications, and Earth observation satellites in higher orbits, the implications are even more direct. Many of these spacecraft were designed based on historical records of geomagnetic storms that did not include such extreme compression of the magnetosphere, which means their shielding, redundancy, and fault management systems may not fully account for the conditions seen in this event. As I look at the trajectory of the satellite economy, with thousands of new platforms planned for launch in the coming years, the lesson is clear: space weather resilience can no longer be treated as a niche concern. It has to be built into hardware design, constellation architecture, and operational playbooks from the start, or the next superstorm could turn a profitable orbital network into a liability overnight.

"Preparing for the next superstorm in a crowded sky

"The recent compression of Earth’s plasma shield did not trigger the kind of global blackout or navigation collapse that worst-case scenarios envision, but it came close enough to expose the seams in current preparedness. Space weather forecasting has improved, yet the lead times and confidence levels are still limited, especially for the most extreme events. To protect GPS, power grids, and other critical systems, operators need not just alerts that a storm is coming but actionable guidance on how severe the magnetospheric compression is likely to be, which orbits will be most exposed, and how long the elevated risk will last, insights that depend on the kind of multi-satellite observations and modeling showcased in the reconstruction of this storm.

"As I weigh the evidence, the path forward looks less like a single technological fix and more like a layered strategy. That means hardening satellites and ground infrastructure against radiation and induced currents, building redundancy into navigation and timing systems so that GPS is not a single point of failure, and integrating space weather scenarios into everything from grid planning to aviation routing. It also means improving public communication so that when the next superstorm hits, people understand both the seriousness of a 78 percent shrinkage of Earth’s plasma shield and the practical steps being taken to manage the risk. The recent event was a vivid reminder that our digital civilization is built inside a magnetic cocoon that can flex and falter, and that planning for those moments is no longer optional."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/record-superstorm-shrank-earth-s-plasma-shield-78-gps-at-risk/ar-AA1RvRy2?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=692e27870291497eb907556f3dfde189&ei=10

#SolarSuperstorm #SolarFlares #Magnetosphere #MagnetosphericCompression #Satellites #SpaceIndustry #DarkSkies #SpaceJunk #InternetOutages #KesslerSyndrome #CarringtonEvent #SystemVulnerabilities #ConnectedGrids #TechDisruption #DisruptiveTechnology
#Landlines #TechVulnerability

Record #SolarSuperstorm shrank Earth’s plasma shield 78%, #GPS at risk

Story by Alexander Clark, 12/1/2025

Excerpt: "Why this storm is a warning shot for the #SatelliteEconomy

"Even without a total collapse of the magnetosphere, the recent superstorm delivered a clear warning to the satellite industry. Constellations in low Earth orbit [#LEO], such as #SpaceX’s #Starlink or #OneWeb, already have to contend with atmospheric drag and radiation, but they usually operate well inside the magnetosphere’s protection. When the plasma shield shrinks, those satellites face a double challenge: increased drag from a heated upper atmosphere and a more hostile radiation environment that can degrade electronics and solar panels. The event that compressed Earth’s shield by nearly 80 percent effectively stress-tested the assumptions behind the rapid expansion of commercial space infrastructure, a point underscored in analyses of how a solar storm can threaten satellites when the magnetosphere is squeezed.

"For operators of navigation, communications, and Earth observation satellites in higher orbits, the implications are even more direct. Many of these spacecraft were designed based on historical records of geomagnetic storms that did not include such extreme compression of the magnetosphere, which means their shielding, redundancy, and fault management systems may not fully account for the conditions seen in this event. As I look at the trajectory of the satellite economy, with thousands of new platforms planned for launch in the coming years, the lesson is clear: space weather resilience can no longer be treated as a niche concern. It has to be built into hardware design, constellation architecture, and operational playbooks from the start, or the next superstorm could turn a profitable orbital network into a liability overnight.

"Preparing for the next superstorm in a crowded sky

"The recent compression of Earth’s plasma shield did not trigger the kind of global blackout or navigation collapse that worst-case scenarios envision, but it came close enough to expose the seams in current preparedness. Space weather forecasting has improved, yet the lead times and confidence levels are still limited, especially for the most extreme events. To protect GPS, power grids, and other critical systems, operators need not just alerts that a storm is coming but actionable guidance on how severe the magnetospheric compression is likely to be, which orbits will be most exposed, and how long the elevated risk will last, insights that depend on the kind of multi-satellite observations and modeling showcased in the reconstruction of this storm.

"As I weigh the evidence, the path forward looks less like a single technological fix and more like a layered strategy. That means hardening satellites and ground infrastructure against radiation and induced currents, building redundancy into navigation and timing systems so that GPS is not a single point of failure, and integrating space weather scenarios into everything from grid planning to aviation routing. It also means improving public communication so that when the next superstorm hits, people understand both the seriousness of a 78 percent shrinkage of Earth’s plasma shield and the practical steps being taken to manage the risk. The recent event was a vivid reminder that our digital civilization is built inside a magnetic cocoon that can flex and falter, and that planning for those moments is no longer optional."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/record-superstorm-shrank-earth-s-plasma-shield-78-gps-at-risk/ar-AA1RvRy2?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=692e27870291497eb907556f3dfde189&ei=10

#SolarSuperstorm #SolarFlares #Magnetosphere #MagnetosphericCompression #Satellites #SpaceIndustry #DarkSkies #SpaceJunk #InternetOutages #KesslerSyndrome #CarringtonEvent #SystemVulnerabilities #ConnectedGrids #TechDisruption #DisruptiveTechnology
#Landlines #TechVulnerability

ESCAPADE Theoretical Flight Through Active Mars Magnetosphere 🌑🌱🧑‍🚀🪐

#Artemis #BiologicalClassification #CoronalMassEjections #ESCAPADE #EarthScience #Heliophysics #Lunar #Magnetosphere

⏩ 2 new pictures and 2 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=18&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251121125811

ESCAPADE Theoretical Flight Through Active Mars Magnetosphere 🌑🌱🧑‍🚀🪐

#Artemis #BiologicalClassification #CoronalMassEjections #ESCAPADE #EarthScience #Heliophysics #Lunar #Magnetosphere

⏩ 2 new pictures and 2 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=18&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251121125811

#ESA:
"
Smile approved for launch in spring 2026
"
"Smile has passed its qualification and flight acceptance review, meaning that it meets all requirements for launch. The launch window has been set for 8 April to 7 May 2026."

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_approved_for_launch_in_spring_2026

20.11.2025

#CAS #China #ESTEC #Ionosphere #Magnetosphere #Raumfahrt #Satelliten #Smile #SolarWind #SpaceFlight #VegaC

#ESA:
"
Smile approved for launch in spring 2026
"
"Smile has passed its qualification and flight acceptance review, meaning that it meets all requirements for launch. The launch window has been set for 8 April to 7 May 2026."

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Smile/Smile_approved_for_launch_in_spring_2026

20.11.2025

#CAS #China #ESTEC #Ionosphere #Magnetosphere #Raumfahrt #Satelliten #Smile #SolarWind #SpaceFlight #VegaC

Preparing for Martian Explorers: NASA's ESCAPADE Investigates Mars Space Weather ☀️🛰️🪐

#AtmosphericEscape #Corona #ESCAPADE #Heliophysics #MagneticFields #Magnetosphere #Mars #MarsArrival

⏩ 2 new pictures and 2 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=8&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251114125752

Preparing for Martian Explorers: NASA's ESCAPADE Investigates Mars Space Weather ☀️🛰️🪐

#AtmosphericEscape #Corona #ESCAPADE #Heliophysics #MagneticFields #Magnetosphere #Mars #MarsArrival

⏩ 2 new pictures and 2 new videos from NASA (SVS) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles?limit=8&user=OptimusPrimeBot&ilshowall=1&offset=20251114125752

🌞 The solar wind is a stream of charged particles from the Sun’s corona.
🌍 Earth’s magnetic field deflects most, but some are funneled toward the poles. The result is shimmering auroras in green and violet, Earth’s luminous signature of space weather.

✍️ Explore the science & FAQs:
https://TPC8.short.gy/XHvZuUqp

🔆 Where the Sun’s breath meets Earth’s shield, the sky writes its story in light.

#SolarWind #Aurora #SpaceWeather #Magnetosphere #Sun #Earth #Plasma #Space #Astrophysics #Cosmos #TPC8