Polar research protecting satellites
Satellites quietly keep modern life moving. They guide planes, run phone networks power GPS, support banking systems and help keep the internet stable.
But they face a natural threat most of us never think about: solar storms. These bursts of energy from the Sun can damage satellites, block signals and disrupt services we rely on every day.
Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have spent decades studying how the Sun can increase particle radiation sweeping around Earth. The most revealing clues come from the polar regions, where the effects of space weather are strongest.
By understanding how radiation builds, spreads and intensifies across different parts of near-Earth space, BAS has transformed what we know about the risks satellites face. This research led to a major breakthrough: a new space-weather forecast that protects satellites across many orbits.
It is the first ever forecast for medium Earth orbit, where GPS satellites fly and a huge improvement on the older, simpler forecasts used for satellites further out in space. Crucially, it gives satellite operators up to 24 hours’ warning when radiation levels are likely to rise. That advance notice now shapes how satellites are designed, built, flown and insured.
The forecast is used by the European Space Agency, the Met Office and companies across the global space industry, helping them protect equipment, avoid service outages and keep critical systems running. It also feeds into national planning, including the UK’s security risk assessments and international standards for dealing with extreme solar storms.
Better forecasting is a key part of strengthening the UK’s resilience and helps reduce the impact of storms that might otherwise cost billions.
Award-winning and internationally adopted, this BAS work shows how polar science delivers realworld benefits. It is protecting vital services we depend on every day and helping power growth in the UK’s £17 billion space sector