A Research Perspective Practical Consequences of Space Weather Effects on Satellites Click to see enlarged view.
Satellites often operate in the space environment for many years.
Depending upon their altitude, satellite electronic components, solar cells, and materials degrade from the accumulated radiation dose caused by repeated traversals of the Van Allen radiation belts . Similarly, the bombardment by atoms in the thin upper atmosphere can alter orbits and wear surfaces away. Some materials become brittle from long-term exposure to solar ultraviolet light above the protective absorbing atmosphere. Single penetrating cosmic rays can change the state in electronics components such as spacecraft memory chips. It is thought that the trapped energetic electron radiation whose intensity increases with solar wind velocity produces deep dielectric charging in the unshielded parts of a satellite.