Weathering a Solar Superstorm: Starlink Performance during the May 2024 Storm

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite networks are becoming an increasingly important component of the Internet infrastructure. However, LEO satellites are exposed to harsh space weather conditions and are vulnerable to partial or total failures during solar storms. The solar superstorm of May 2024, the largest storm in over two decades, offers us a glimpse into the impact of space weather events on the LEO satellite network. In this work, we analyze Starlink's performance during the May 2024 superstorm using measurements from 81 RIPE Atlas probes spanning 18 countries connected to the Starlink Autonomous System (AS 14593). We offer insight into the temporal and spatial impact of solar superstorms on LEO network performance. Overall, Starlink satellites weathered the superstorm relatively well. The impact was predominantly observed as increased latencies, with only a limited impact on packet loss. The impact on packet loss was more immediate (with the maximum on May 11) than the impact on latency (with the maximum on May 12). Finally, we discuss opportunities for better understanding and improving LEO satellite behavior under solar storms.