[Elisabetxxx]

If a super solar storm hits, can it knock out all space satellites orbiting the Earth?

[sbgctsa]

Yes, we are all going to die pretty soon.
I hope that sums up all your questions now and in the near future

[TheReallyBest]

If a super solar storm hits, can it knock out all space satellites orbiting the Earth?

No, some are static and wont be hit. Depending on length of the storm. Also not all will go out depending on the kind of tech inside them.

[Elisabetxxx]

No, some are static and wont be hit. Depending on length of the storm. Also not all will go out depending on the kind of tech inside them.

When you said static, did you mean geostationary? Won't those satellites too be in the path of the solar storm?

If a super solar storm as powerful as the one in 1859 were to occur, how badly will the satellites in space be affected? Also, will the crew in the International Space Station be able to survive (even after moving to shielded parts of the space station)?

[emingeRek]

When you said static, did you mean geostationary? Won't those satellites too be in the path of the solar storm?

If a super solar storm as powerful as the one in 1859 were to occur, how badly will the satellites in space be affected? Also, will the crew in the International Space Station be able to survive (even after moving to shielded parts of the space station)?

Reading that, I got a vision of the World in 1859, where we had satellites and a manned space lab orbiting Earth but not much electricity to speak of yet. Think of it: Gas lamps used for lighting and oil or coal provides the heating. Huge space tankers would supply the satellites and space stations with oil, coal and oxygen. The astronauts would try their best in the zero gravitation to fill in their logs and notes with a quill and ink.[rofl]

...but what would the satellites do if there were no electricity yet, provide long range signalling by blinking gas lights like a lighthouse?

[sposteTipsKage]

If a super solar storm hits, can it knock out all space satellites orbiting the Earth?

Flares can affect and do affect some satellites (example 1 / example 2) but it can't disable all of them, as some will have the Earth between them and the Sun at the time the particles reach Earth.

When you said static, did you mean geostationary? Won't those satellites too be in the path of the solar storm? Satellites in geosynchronous orbits will be more at risk that those in low Earth orbits, but they generally use chips with greater levels of radiation hardening anyway.

If a super solar storm as powerful as the one in 1859 were to occur, how badly will the satellites in space be affected? Also, will the crew in the International Space Station be able to survive (even after moving to shielded parts of the space station)? Something of that order would probably temporarily or permanently disable quite a lot of satellites within the particle path; the crew inside the ISS would be relatively safe, as long as some prior warning was received - if they were performing any kind of EVA, they would undoubtedly receive an acute ionising radiation dose. It would probably be survivable, although I dare say they would feel extremely ill for many weeks.

[LfYaRf1S]

There is a good chance that many will be damaged, partially or completely burned out depending on many factors. Perhaps more concern would be loss of positional control.
With the few minutes notice that may be available, I would expect ISS crew would be able to best position themselves for maimum safety - too bad if you're outside and can't get into the ISS's shadow.

[Enalsebeerkawl]

It would probably be survivable, although I dare say they would feel extremely ill for many weeks.

Either that or they'd all be imbued with superhuman powers and go on to save the world from their evil boss, maybe, no?

[johnteriz]

the ISS is in the earth magnetic field, under the van allen's belt.

[sposteTipsKage]

the ISS is in the earth magnetic field, under the van allen's belt.

The Van Allen belts do not stop all sub-atomic particles in their tracks, so there is always some level of penetration and thus a risk; technically speaking, all orbiting satellites are within the Earth's magnetic field but what you have to look at the shape of the field and the flux density - the solar wind squashes the Sun-facing field and thus the belts are somewhat narrower on that side.