Scientists at Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz have developed a solar storm forecasting system. It is now officially part of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Safety Programme. 

Solar storms can often cause satellites to crash or knock them off their orbit. In early February 2022, a solar storm passing Earth caused the loss of 38 Starlink satellites. 

The forecast service is freely available through the ESA Space Weather Service and offers a warning with a lead time of around 15 hours.

Solar orbiter - Nasa/ESA

Image credit: ESA/ATG medialab

Scientists have already studied the potentially dangerous effects of solar storms on satellite orbit. 

SODA is based on the findings of SWEETS, a project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency...