Presentation for the International Astronautical Conference in Beijing, China, September 2013. This paper describes the risks of solar maximum and space weather in general to space craft and terrestrial infrastructure. It is the final results of a research team project by students of the International Space University Space Studies Program 2013. Download the full report and executive summary at http://isulibrary.isunet.edu/opac/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=8859

1. A space weather survival guide

2. Outline
What is the problem?
Why should we care?
What can we do about it?

3. What is the problem?
“Space weather destroys stuff”
Credit: ESA

4. An introduction to solar physics
The Sun undergoes an
11-year activity cycle.
Solar activity cause
solar flares and
coronal mass ejections
(CME).
During these events,
high energy particles
are ejected to the solar
system.
Some of them might
hit Earth…
Credit: NASA

5. Interaction with Earth’s magnetic field

6. (possible) Impacts on humanity
Satellites stop functioning.
Power grids fail.
Critical services become unavailable without
electricity and satellites.
Major global crisis could take place!
Credit: “World without us” by A. Weisman

7. Why should we care?
“All of this has happened
before, and it will all
happen again” – J.M.
Barrie
Credit: ESA

8. 1859 –Carrington Event
Carrington observed a solar flare coming from a
sunspot
Several days later Earth experienced the
strongest geomagnetic storm ever recorded

9. Quebec Event
On March 13th, 1989, a large solar storm hit
Earth.
Geomagnetically induced currents destroyed
transformers in North American power grid.
The power grid failed in Quebec area for over 9
hours, leaving 5-6 million people without
electricity.
The associated damage is estimated between
4-10B$.

10. Halloween Storm
Strong solar storm hit Earth on October 2003.
New York area suffer from blackout for more
than 30 hours, affecting 50-60 million people.
The associated damage is 4-20B$.
Space missions experience damage and faults
(deep space and near Earth).
Credit: SHTFPlan.org

11. In the meantime…
The above mentioned are “low frequency high
impact” events.
High frequency low impact storms occur all the
time and cause minor failures, some not even
associated with space weather.
Credit: David Shankbone

12. Carrington today?
The world today depends on electricity and
computers to function.
A Carrington like event today can destroy
satellites, power grids, computers and critical
infrastructure.
The world, as we know it, will disappear and
economy might be thrown back 100 years!

13. What can we do about it?
Awareness
Terrestrial protection
Spacecraft protection
Credit: NASA

14. Spacecraft Protection
Learn more about solar physics and space weather
• Study data from other stars (e.g. Kepler data)
• Improve solar observation capabilities
Prepare satellites for extreme space weather
(shielding, redundancy, safe modes…)
Rethink human spacecraft design
Create space weather detection and forecasting
network