Alex Pospekhov, co-founder of Mission Space, discusses how forecasting and understanding solar events can help us create a more sustainable and ecological future.
What is Space Weather
Space weather encompasses various phenomena influenced by solar activity, including solar flares, magnetic storms, coronal mass ejections, and solar winds. These events can disrupt the functioning of satellites, communication and navigation systems on Earth, and the stability of ground-based energy networks, posing significant risks to critical infrastructure.
In addition to technological risks, space weather also affects biological processes. Increased radiation during solar storms can pose a serious threat to the health of astronauts and aviation personnel flying at high altitudes.
The Connection Between Sustainability and Space Weather
The cosmos influences every aspect of our daily lives in some way. Weather forecasting, global communication, navigation, and environmental monitoring are all made possible by technology in near-Earth orbit. However, these systems are at risk in the event of a powerful space storm.
First of all, if the damage to infrastructure reaches a critical level, we may be forced to revert to older, simpler technology. The loss of space-based communication and navigation systems could push our technology back to the early 20th century, or even further. In such a scenario, sustainable and environmentally friendly development would become nearly impossible, as we would lose essential tools for managing our resources and the environment.
A recent event has demonstrated that this kind of destruction is a real possibility. In the spring of this year, a powerful solar storm caused significant issues with GPS. Automated tractors that rely on GPS technology malfunctioned during the planting season, forcing farmers to suspend work. The loss of profit was estimated at $500 million and led to increased prices for agricultural products due to production delays.
Secondly, insufficient analysis of solar weather can lead to the contamination of Earth’s orbit due to the destruction of space objects. For example, in February 2022, a geomagnetic storm severely damaged Starlink satellites, leading to the loss of 38 out of 49 satellites launched, which became space debris. The fragments of these collapsed satellites increase light pollution by reflecting sunlight and creating additional interference for space studies. Currently, there are approximately 9800 active satellites and over 35000 space debris objects orbiting Earth. If we do not address this issue, the situation will likely worsen as the number of satellites continues to grow each year.
Moreover, the loss of satellites has forced SpaceX to start a new production cycle. This has added further strain on the environment, as the manufacturing of each satellite consumes significant resources and energy, and the process has increased CO2 and other emissions associated with launching new spacecraft. A similar incident occurred in May 2024, when a powerful geomagnetic storm caused an increase in the atmosphere density, causing satellites in low Earth orbit to deviate from their set course. This made their management more difficult and required additional resources for their restoration.
Protecting satellites from the harmful effects of solar activity is crucial because they play a key role in managing humanity’s natural resources and planning the use of our planet. Data collected from space allows us to optimize water usage, plan urban development, and monitor environmental changes. For instance, satellite data is used to monitor agricultural land and assess pollution levels in different regions, enabling informed decisions to protect the environment.
Studying and understanding space weather is essential to prevent its negative impacts. Effective monitoring and accurate analysis can significantly reduce the risks associated with solar activity, making our technologies and sustainable development more resilient. By becoming aware of potential dangers in advance, we can prepare for them and protect critical infrastructure. This will help preserve and even improve the quality of life on Earth, making the future more secure and predictable.
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This piece was written by Alex Pospekhov, co-founder of Mission Space, serial tech entrepreneur and startup mentor with over 19 years of experience in the tech business.
