Solar Weather and Single-Event Effects: Why Spacecraft Are on the Front Line of a Growing Cosmic Hazard
Solar activity is rising—and with it, the risk of radiation-driven disruptions to spacecraft electronics. From bit flips to latchups, single-event effects (SEE) are becoming a defining engineering challenge for modern satellite and deep-space missions. As transistor sizes shrink and mission durations grow, resilience to solar weather is no longer optional. This article explores how SEEs occur, their impact on spacecraft, and the technologies designed to keep missions safe.