Satellite Drag Analysis During the May 2024 Gannon Geomagnetic Storm

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Parker, William E., Linares, Richard
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Parker, William E.
Linares, Richard
author_facet Parker, William E.
Linares, Richard
contents Between May 10-12, 2024, Earth saw its largest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years. Since the last major storm in 2003, the population of satellites in low Earth orbit has surged following the commercialization of space services and the ongoing establishment of proliferated LEO constellations. In this note, we investigate the various impacts of the geomagnetic storm on satellite operations. A forecast performance assessment of the geomagnetic index ap shows that the magnitude and duration of the storm were poorly predicted, even one day in advance. Total mass density enhancements in the thermosphere are identified by tracking satellite drag decay characteristics. A history of two-line element (TLE) data from the entire NORAD catalog in LEO is used to observe large-scale trends. Better understanding how geomagnetic storms impact satellite operations is critical for maintaining satellite safety and ensuring long-term robust sustainability in LEO.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2406_08617
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Satellite Drag Analysis During the May 2024 Gannon Geomagnetic Storm
Parker, William E.
Linares, Richard
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Space Physics
Between May 10-12, 2024, Earth saw its largest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years. Since the last major storm in 2003, the population of satellites in low Earth orbit has surged following the commercialization of space services and the ongoing establishment of proliferated LEO constellations. In this note, we investigate the various impacts of the geomagnetic storm on satellite operations. A forecast performance assessment of the geomagnetic index ap shows that the magnitude and duration of the storm were poorly predicted, even one day in advance. Total mass density enhancements in the thermosphere are identified by tracking satellite drag decay characteristics. A history of two-line element (TLE) data from the entire NORAD catalog in LEO is used to observe large-scale trends. Better understanding how geomagnetic storms impact satellite operations is critical for maintaining satellite safety and ensuring long-term robust sustainability in LEO.
title Satellite Drag Analysis During the May 2024 Gannon Geomagnetic Storm
topic Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2406.08617