This sort of big bang thing – a ‘Carrington Event’ – named after some guy before even my time, is apparently more likely during solar slack times. The potential for damage to the satellite flock is, shall we say, ‘significant’. There was, in 2003, what became known as the ‘Halloween Super storm’ which gave some indication of that potential. As we go into the forecast solar down-time the risk of a ‘Big-un’ is reckoned to increase. Might be time to dust off the old paper nav system!
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