On February 27, one of the most powerful solar storms in a long time hit Earth. The solar storm is caused by a coronal mass ejection (CME) cloud supported by a fast-moving solar wind. Together, the intensity of the solar storm was amplified and at its peak it was recorded as a G3-class solar storm. As usual, the solar storm caused GPS disruption and affected some low-frequency wireless communications, but its actual impact was far more dire than any such storm. so seen recently. This solar storm caused SpaceX to cancel its rocket launch plan and it even forced oil rigs in Canada to shut down.
delayed solar storm space rocket launch
According to one report by Space.com, SpaceX’s launch of 21 new “V2 mini” Starlink satellites atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station has been delayed by more than 4.5 hours due to an ongoing solar storm. takes place during the scheduled launch time. The official SpaceX Twitter handle also tweeted about the delay and said, “Due to a gap weather interested, is currently targeting no earlier than 6:13 p.m. ET for today’s launch of 21 second-generation Starlink satellites from Florida.”
This is also not the first time SpaceX has had to deal with a sudden solar storm during launch. In February 2022, the aerospace company lost 40 satellites after launching a rocket in a solar storm.
Solar storms increase the density of gases at higher altitudes by inflating the upper layer of the atmosphere. When that happens, air drag increases at those altitudes, and spacecraft often struggle to maintain their upward trajectory. The impact is even more felt for smaller satellites like star link female.
Oil rig interrupted due to solar storm
Delaying a rocket isn’t the only thing this solar storm impacts. It also affects oil rigs in Canada. Space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov said in a tweet“The ongoing strong #solarstorm is affecting #GPS and has even caused rigs to temporarily shut down due to even unreliable accuracy. GPS signal and due to GIC (geomagnetic induced current in the ground). Events like this will happen more frequently as we approach the solar maximum.”
She further explained in a separate post, “GIC had a moment of several volts per kilometer last night plus GPS signals flashing under the aurora, which we can see right away in the photo. Those things combined can cause major problems for many drilling operations because they rely on precise GPS, especially those at high latitudes. National grids in Canada and the United States are also currently handling GICs.”
Simply put, geomagnetic induced current is similar to the way electromagnetic current is generated in a motor. GIC causes many electronic equipment and power grids to oscillate and even be damaged. If they continue to work, they can also be permanently destroyed by not being able to handle such a huge amount of voltage.
Fortunately, this is not a G5-class solar storm that is likely to have far worse consequences including damaging Earth’s electronic devices such as pacemakers and ventilators as well as damaging mobile networks and internet infrastructure. With increasing solar intensity, it’s impossible to say when the next severe solar storm could hit us.
