Solar Tempests & Orbital Guardians: The Secret Life of Space-Weather Satellites
In 1859, the Carrington Event triggered global telegraph failures and equatorial auroras, marking the largest recorded geomagnetic storm. Modern satellites—GOES, SOHO, ACE, DSCOVR, SDO, STEREO-A, and Aditya-L1—monitor solar activity and warn of space weather threats. The 1989 Quebec blackout and 1994 Anik satellite failures highlighted ongoing risks to power grids and satellites. ESA’s Vigil mission is planned for 2031.