What is the impact of sun outages on communication satellites?

The impact of sun outages on communication satellites primarily occurs twice a year during specific times when the sun is directly in line with the satellite and the Earth station antennas. During these periods, the intense solar radiation can interfere with the signals transmitted and received by the satellite, leading to temporary disruptions in communication. This phenomenon is predictable and follows a semi-annual pattern as the Earth orbits the sun, typically occurring around the equinoxes in March and September.

The monthly or annual frequency of these outages is an important operational consideration for satellite communication providers, as they can plan for these interruptions in advance. Adapting protocols or scheduling maintenance during these predictable sun outages can help mitigate their effects.