Mismanagement and underinvestment by the U.S. Air Force could possibly lead to the failure and blackout of the Global Positioning System (GPS), a federal watchdog agency says. Full story:
* Live Science (07 January 2009) about 2012, Solar Storm and NASA - A new study from the National Academy of Sciences outlines grim possibilities on Earth for a worst-case scenario solar storm… the next peak in solar activity is expected to come around 2012… The report was commissioned and funded by NASA. Experts from around the world in industry, government and academia participated.
Damage to power grids and other communications systems could be catastrophic, the scientists conclude, with effects leading to a potential loss of governmental control of the situation… When the sun is in the active phase of its 11-year cycle, it can unleash powerful magnetic storms that disable satellites, threaten astronaut safety, and even disrupt communication systems on Earth:
