Space Weather Losses Projected to Double by 2035
Economic losses from solar storms are expected to more than double by 2035, according to a new report by Mission Space. The report projects that losses will increase from $20.65 billion in 2026 to $44.27 billion by 2035, primarily due to the growing exposure of space-based infrastructure.
The Solar Storm Economic Exposure Model (SSEEM) v2.0, developed by Mission Space, attributes this rise not to an increase in solar activity but to the expansion of space infrastructure, including satellites and orbital compute systems, over the next decade.
In 2026, power grids are expected to account for $12.88 billion, or approximately 62.4% of total losses. By 2035, this figure is projected to rise to $18.03 billion. Meanwhile, losses from space infrastructure and connectivity are anticipated to increase from $2.21 billion in 2026 to $8.83 billion in 2035, making it the second-largest category of economic impact.
The report also highlights that orbital and beyond-Earth channels, such as space connectivity and lunar operations, will grow from 17% of total expected loss in 2026 to 42% by 2035. The SSEEM model assumes constant solar-storm frequencies during this period, indicating that the growth in losses is driven solely by infrastructure deployment.
Complementary research provides historical context for these projections. A 2017 study estimated daily U.S. economic losses from extreme space weather-induced grid failures could range from $6.2 billion to $41.5 billion, depending on the severity of the event.