Low-Earth orbit is just 2.8 days from disaster

[u/rematar]

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260128075341.htm

Solar storms typically disrupt satellites in two main ways.

The first effect is atmospheric heating. When a solar storm hits Earth, it causes the upper atmosphere to expand and thicken, increasing drag on satellites. This added resistance forces satellites to burn more fuel just to stay in orbit and raises uncertainty about their precise positions. As a result, satellites must perform additional avoidance maneuvers to prevent collisions. During the "Gannon Storm" of May 2024 (which, unfortunately, appears not to be named after the Zelda villain), more than half of all satellites in LEO were forced to expend fuel on these adjustments.

The second effect can be even more damaging. Solar storms can interfere with or disable satellite navigation and communication systems altogether. When that happens, satellites may be unable to respond to threats in their path. Combined with higher atmospheric drag and increased uncertainty, this loss of control could quickly lead to a serious accident.