Space

18 October 2025

Ahead of the Sentinel-1D launch, which is scheduled for 4 November 2025, ESA created a simulation of the biggest solar storm ever recorded. The purpose of this simulation is to prepare mission control for anomalies and test the control team’s ability to respond under disrupted communications.

Effects Of The ESA Solar Storm Simulation

ESA began running this simulation in mid-September at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany. Inspirations for this simulation were drawn from what we now know about the strongest geomagnetic storm ever recorded, the Carrington event that happened in 1859.

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If such an event occurs again, Thomas Ormston, Deputy Spacecraft Operations Manager for Sentinel-1D, says his team’s “goal would be to keep the satellite safe and limit the damage as much as possible.” Taking part in this simulation were the ESA Space Weather Office of its Space Safety Centre, the Space Debris Office, and the operations managers of other ESA Earth-orbiting missions.

During the simulation, the spacecraft was hit by a solar flare, a second wave composed of high-energy particles, and lastly a coronal mass ejection. The first wave disrupted communications, radar, and tracking systems, the next wave disrupted onboard electronics, while the last wave created auroras and caused electricity surges.

Speaking on this simulation, Jorge Amaya, Space Weather Modelling Coordinator at ESA, says, “Should such a storm occur, satellite drag could increase by 400% with local peaks in atmospheric density.” Amaya adds that such a solar storm will “not only affects collision risks but also shortens satellite lifetimes due to increased fuel consumption to compensate for the orbit decay.”

Preparing For Such A Solar Storm

Gustavo Baldo Carvalho, Lead Simulation Officer of Sentinel-1D, says this simulation gives ESA “valuable insights into how we could better plan, approach and react when such an event occur.” He adds that “The key takeaway is that it’s not a question of if this will happen but when.”

The ESA Space Safety Centre plays a significant role in not only this simulation but also Europe’s preparation for extreme solar storms. Insight from this simulation will help ESA to put space weather operational services in place in preparation for such events.

To this end, ESA is developing the Distributed Space Weather Sensor System (D3S). This programme will use weather satellites to monitor space weather around the Earth. Data from D3S and the coming ESA Vigil mission, which will launch in 2031, will help prepare Europe for extreme solar storms.

Last updated: 18th Oct 2025

European Space Agency (ESA)News

Published by Collins Eshiet

Collins Eshiet is a technology writer who hails from Nigeria. His love for technology started at a young age as an obsession with trying to understand how basic household gadgets work. Mobile, automobile, and space technology are now his speciality.