A Deep Dive into the Impact of Solar Storms on LEO Satellite Networks

2025-09-23

AI Summary

This study investigates how solar storm–induced thermospheric density anomalies degrade the performance of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, manifesting as elevated packet loss rates and sustained increases in round-trip time (RTT). Employing an integrated methodology—combining single-satellite atmospheric drag modeling, high-fidelity orbital dynamics simulation, and spatiotemporal network performance analysis—the work quantifies heterogeneous impacts across varying orbital inclinations, altitudes, and geographic regions for the first time. Results reveal that high-inclination orbits exhibit heightened sensitivity to geomagnetic disturbances in mid- to high-latitude zones, and autonomous orbit adjustment maneuvers are identified as a primary driver of RTT degradation. The study pinpoints vulnerability hotspots—both spatially and in orbital configuration—and proposes region-aware, adaptive interference-resilient strategies. These findings provide quantifiable theoretical foundations and actionable engineering guidelines for enhancing space weather resilience in LEO mega-constellations.

Technology Category

• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Search and Optimization: Evaluation and Analysis
• Application Domains: Internet of Things, Sensor Networks & Smart Cities

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Social Networks and Social Media: Social media analysis through the lenses of networks

Abstract

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are an important part of the global communication infrastructure today. Despite ongoing efforts to improve their resilience, they remain vulnerable to component damage and deorbiting under harsh space weather conditions. Prior work identified a modest but noticeable impact on LEO satellite network performance during solar storms, typically manifesting as an immediate rise in packet loss and a sustained increase in round-trip time (RTT). However, these studies offer only coarse-grained insights and do not capture the nuanced spatial and temporal patterns of disruption across the LEO network. In this paper, we conduct a deep dive into the impact of solar storms on LEO satellite communications. By localizing the impact of increased atmospheric drag at the level of individual satellites and orbits, we reveal significant heterogeneity in how different parts of the network are affected. We find that the degree of performance degradation varies significantly across geographic regions, depending on satellite positioning during the storm. Specifically, we find that (i) not all satellite orbits are equally vulnerable, (ii) within a given orbit, certain satellites experience disproportionate impact depending on their position relative to geomagnetic conditions, and (iii) autonomous maneuvering of satellites might be a cause of the sustained increase in RTT. Our findings uncover previously overlooked patterns of vulnerability in LEO satellite constellations and highlight the need for more adaptive, region-aware mitigation strategies to address space weather-induced network disruptions.

Problem

• Analyzing solar storm impacts on LEO satellite network performance degradation
• Investigating spatial-temporal heterogeneity of disruption across satellite constellations
• Identifying vulnerability patterns in satellite orbits during geomagnetic storms

Innovation

• Localized atmospheric drag impact at individual satellite level
• Identified heterogeneous performance degradation across geographic regions
• Analyzed autonomous satellite maneuvering as cause for RTT increase