Geomagnetic Storms and Satellite Orbital Decay

TL;DR

This paper investigates how geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity affect satellite orbital decay, emphasizing the importance of space weather monitoring for satellite longevity and safety.

Contribution

It demonstrates the impact of various geomagnetic storms on satellite orbits and discusses satellite attributes influencing decay, highlighting the need for improved space weather prediction.

Findings

Different geomagnetic storms significantly affect satellite orbital decay.

Satellite physical attributes influence susceptibility to orbital decay.

Monitoring space weather is crucial for satellite safety.

Abstract

Energetic events on the Sun, particularly coronal mass ejections and high speed streams, regulate the near Earth space environment and give rise to space weather. A major terrestrial manifestation of such events are geomagnetic storms. A geomagnetic storm results in dissipation of energy from the solar wind into the atmosphere, leading to Joule heating and thermospheric expansion. This has serious consequences on Low Earth Orbit satellite lifetimes. Our work demonstrates the impact of different kinds of geomagnetic storms on satellite orbits. We also briefly discuss about some physical attributes of satellites that can make them prone to higher orbital decay. Our work highlights the importance of monitoring and predicting space weather, and assessing their impacts on space-based human technologies.