A recent pair of major geomagnetic storms has caused unprecedented satellite migrations in low Earth orbit, raising concerns about space traffic coordination. The phenomenon was first observed in May during the Gannon storm, which increased atmospheric density at altitudes by up to an order of magnitude.
According to William Parker, a researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, this increase in density resulted in more drag on satellites, affecting their orbits. The problem was compounded by low accuracy forecasts, which led to 20 kilometers of position error in satellite computations.
The resulting mass migrations saw nearly 5,000 Starlink satellites perform orbit-raising maneuvers, a record-breaking event. However, this increased complexity for collision avoidance efforts, as satellite operators struggled with uncertainty about when collisions would occur.
Parker emphasizes the need for improved space weather models and forecasts to mitigate this issue. He notes that the impact of these events will become more critical in the future due to growing reliance on space-based infrastructure.
Source: https://spacenews.com/geomagnetic-storms-cause-mass-migrations-of-satellites