Solar activity endangers satellites in low Earth orbit

In recent months, intense solar activity has posed a threat to satellites orbiting Earth at low altitudes, particularly affecting those less than 1,000 km above the surface. The phenomenon is part of a cyclical pattern related to the Sun's magnetic field, which undergoes a complete flip approximately every 11 years. As the current solar cycle, identified as solar cycle 25, reaches its peak, predictions indicate an increase in atmospheric drag on satellites due to the expansion of the outer atmosphere. This situation has forced satellite operators to grapple with more frequent orbital decay, with some satellites functioning for only two months instead of the anticipated six months due to these conditions. The Binar Space Program, operating from Curtin University, serves as a prime example of this struggle, as its CubeSat missions are significantly affected by the unpredictable challenges presented by space weather.