Solar Radiation Threat

A new study suggests that superstorms on the Sun-- powerful magnetic storms associated with sunspot activity-- could damage satellites orbiting Earth more than previously thought, and the damage could be cumulative, continuing to degrade sensitive satellite electronics for years after the initial event.

Such damage would affect everything dependent on satellites-- communications, weather forecasting, resource identification, military uses, etc. Economic and security situations could be negatively impacted. Increased radiation shielding for satellites is one solution, but that would be expensive. Another solution may be to build more, simpler satellites, so if one stopped functioning a spare would be ready to go. That approach might even strengthen the aerospace industry.