A grade 4 geomagnetic storm hit Earth on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, forcing NASA to postpone the launch of the ESCAPADE mission, aimed at studying space weather on Mars. The event, caused by multiple coronal mass ejections from the Sun, also caused aurora borealis visible in unusual locations, such as Texas, Florida and Alabama, in the United States. NOAA experts classified the phenomenon as one of the most intense in two decades, with effects lasting until Thursday, November 13.
The postponement occurred at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket was waiting to launch the mission’s two twin probes into orbit. The decision prioritized the safety of the spacecraft, which could suffer damage from high radiation during critical stages of separation and deployment of solar panels.
The storm resulted from the combination of three coronal ejections launched between Sunday and Tuesday, with two of them colliding simultaneously with the Earth’s magnetosphere. This interaction has generated disruptions that affect satellites, communications and electrical grids, requiring continuous monitoring by space agencies.
Mechanism of coronal ejections
Coronal mass ejections release billions of tons of plasma and charged particles from the Sun at speeds of up to 2 million kilometers per hour. When directed towards Earth, they compress the planet’s magnetic field, triggering induced electrical currents that interfere with technological systems.
The Sun, in its 11-year cycle, reached its peak of activity in 2024, and the current period concentrates more powerful events. Daniel Baker, from the University of Colorado’s Atmospheric Physics Laboratory, highlighted that composite storms like this maximize impacts on space weather.
- Particles collide with the upper atmosphere, exciting gases and producing colorful lights in the auroras.
- In low orbits, atmospheric drag increases, forcing adjustments in satellite trajectories.
- GPS and radio networks suffer temporary outages in affected areas.
After a successful launch on @blueorigin’s New Glenn rocket, our ESCAPADE mission has begun its journey – ultimately destined for Mars. The twin spacecraft will orbit the Red Planet, investigating how the solar wind stripped its atmosphere. https://t.co/URspHkGcLx pic.twitter.com/sMahZAN2Ov
— NASA (@NASA) November 14, 2025
Risks to satellites in orbit
Satellites at low altitudes face greater vulnerability during these events. The expansion of the upper atmosphere, heated by solar particles, can lower spacecraft by hundreds of meters, as occurred in 2024 with NASA equipment.
Kerri Cahoy, an engineer at MIT, explained that recent commercial constellations do not always include robust shielding againstradiation, unlike older models. In 2022, a similar storm disabled 40 SpaceX satellites shortly after launch.
The magnetosphere offers partial protection, but at high altitudes, such as GPS and meteorological satellites, exposure is greater. Operators activate safe modes to mitigate failures.
Projections indicate that thousands of satellites in low orbit require greater coordination to avoid collisions during peak drags.
Cautious decision in ESCAPADE mission
Rob Lillis, ESCAPADE principal investigator, said the launch would proceed if solar activity decreased on Tuesday. However, new predictions pointed to another coronal ejection in line with the release of the rocket’s probes.
High radiation could corrupt data on onboard computers or fail to extend solar panels, essential for initial operation. The mission, made up of the Blue and Gold probes, aims to analyze how the solar wind erodes the Martian atmosphere over a 22-month journey.
The postponement increases the risk of collisions, as geomagnetic storms interrupt accurate tracking. Baker reinforced that agencies lose crucial data, complicating maneuvers in an environment with millions of space debris.
Meanwhile, the launch of a Viasat satellite, scheduled for Thursday by the United Launch Alliance, remains under evaluation. Space weather teams re-examine conditions ahead of countdown.
Comparisonwith past events
The current storm evokes the Halloween eruptions of 2003, when a few hundred satellites orbited the Earth. Today, with thousands in operation, the challenges multiply, but monitoring systems have advanced.
In May 2024, a G5 storm caused global auroras and communications disruptions, serving as a warning for current preparations. NOAA has issued advisories to electric grid and satellite operators to mitigate impacts.
The British Geological Survey has recorded the largest induced geelectric field in the UK since 2012, with the potential to overload transformers.
Astronauts on the International Space Station activated radiation shelter protocols, postponing external activities.
Preparations for future solar surges
Agencies such as ESA and NASA run regular simulations to quickly respond to eruptions. In October 2025, an exercise tested protocols for the launch of Sentinel-1D, simulating communications interference.
The solar cycle is expected to maintain high levels until mid-2026, with more than ten severe storms recorded between 2024 and 2025. Improved forecasts via the fleet of heliophysical satellites provide windows of up to 72 hours for preventative action.
ESCAPADE, ironically, will contribute to similar predictions on Mars, protecting future human missions.
