Space weather’s effects on satellites
Is your cable television on the fritz? One explanation, scientists suspect, may be the weather — the weather in space, that is. MIT researchers are investigating the effects of space weather — such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms and other forms of electromagnetic radiation — on geostationary satellites, which provide much of the world’s access to cable television, Internet services and global communications. Geostationary satellites orbit at the same rate as the Earth’s rotation, essentially remaining above the same location throughout their lifetimes. These satellites are designed to last up to 15 years, during which time they may be bombarded by charged particles. Most satellites cover sensitive electronics with layers of protective shielding, but over time, radiation can penetrate and degrade a satellite’s components and performance. “If we can understand how the environment affects these satellites, and we can design to improve the satellites to be more tolerant, then it...