US Security Threatened by Solar Storm Impacts on Earth- and Space-Based Technologies

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Emma Fraley, MS Candidate (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering), Spring 2020

In 1859 the strongest recorded solar storm disrupted telegraph systems around the globe. Today, solar storms not only impact current communication systems but the electrical grid, GPS, and satellites. If an extreme solar storm similar in strength to the 1859 Carrington Event occurred today, the consequences for US security could be severe as many critical services and capabilities depend on the earth- and space-based technologies that would be affected. The probability that a Carrington Event level storm will occur is low, but statistically, one will occur. It is not a matter of if but when, and therefore the issue cannot be overlooked. Several resilience measures can be implemented to protect critical technologies as well as dependent infrastructure and functions from the impacts of solar storms. Improved solar storm models will help develop more accurate solar storm forecasting and provide a better understanding of how solar storms impact technology in space and on Earth. A range of resilience measures can also be pursued specific to the various technologies impacted such as hardening, upgrading, or updating critical systems, ensuring there is redundancy in systems, and implementing alternative systems to increase diversity in key functions.

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