[PapaBear3625]

It could paralyze the economy of the planet earth. In 1859 we had a gigantic solar storm which knocked out telegraph wires back then, 150 years ago. If that had happened today it would knock out almost all our satellites, knock out power stations, there would be food riots around the country because refrigeration would stop, airplanes would probably crash without radar.

Telegraph wires back then had lengths of tens of miles, with loads of a fraction of a watt (the clicker). I doubt that a solar flare would register on today's power lines. Satellites might be another story, but I assume they harden them against flares.

[RinaseaofDs]

Grounding is a problem on satellites especially. Where do you bleed off the excess current? Modern aircraft can sustain lightning strikes, so obviously there’s a way.