effects of solar flare on geostationary satellites
- Paper number
IAC-16,C2,6,7,x35001
- Coauthor
Mr. Abbishek G, India
- Coauthor
Mr. Rohan Kulkarni, India
- Coauthor
Ms. Karunya Raj, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India
- Year
2016
- Abstract
Satellites have become an integral part of mankind from the past 4 decades. We rely more on the satellites than any other system which the mankind has ever built. Without the satellites, we would be pushed into the dark ages. The satellites are subjected to radiation doses from the Sun, Earth’s magnetic field and cosmic rays. One of the factors that play a major role in damaging the satellites is the strong radiations from the sun during a massive solar event such as a coronal mass ejection. A coronal mass ejection is a massive outburst of solar plasma and magnetic field from the sun. They travel at very high supersonic speeds with a very high magnetic field strength. These CME’s when hit the Earth, compress the magnetosphere of the Earth from the dayside and causes the phenomena of aurorae. The satellites that are beyond the Van Allen Radiation Belts that is the communication satellites are affected the most. During a strong CME, a huge number of plasma particles would bombard the satellite along with a strong magnetic field, which would eventually result in the failure of the electronic equipment on board. This paper provides with the case study of the effect of a massive solar event on a geostationary satellite. Instead of a CME, a solar flare is considered, which is an outburst of electromagnetic energy from the sun. Various effects of the bombardment of these electromagnetic waves on the satellite are studied. Communication satellites are the most expensive satellites to launch as they have to be placed in the geostationary/geosynchronous orbits. If they are subjected to such high doses of radiation, then the money which is invested in building and launching them would be wasted. To avoid such scenarios, proper protective methods must be employed to safeguard the electronic components on board. Hence, the paper will analyse the protective measures that are used on the satellite, provide with some new protective measurements and compare both the results.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)