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A geomagnetic storm in May brought the best auroral displays in two decades, but it also battered satellites around the world.

An analyse of open-access data from the US Space Force revealed more than 5,000 satellites had to manoeuvre during the storm.

The researchers suggested a combination of poor forecasting and satellites having to raise themselves back to the correct altitude "en masse" provided an unreasonable risk of satellite collisions.

William Parker, an aeronautical researcher at the MassachusettsInstitute ot Technology (MIT), believes this risk will only increase over time as satellite constellations like Elon Musk's Starlink launch hundreds of new satellites each month.

"More satellites have been launched in the past five years than in the previous 60 years combined," Mr Parker said. "The current number of satellites in orbit is so high that many satellites must manoeuvre daily to avoid collisions.”

“The fact that SpaceX in particular were actively looking after their satellites and manoeuvring them to try and recover during the storm- this is all positive," Dr Carter said.

"The problem … was that it's not controlled, it's not openly communicated, and it's not transparent.”

Without this communication, other satellites have a higher risk of colliding.

Both Dr Carter and Mr Parker want open communication between the satellite companies and researchers.

“Space is a shared resource that requires international consensus and cooperation, Mr Parker said. "The only way to ensure long-term sustainable access to space is through commonsense regulation and oversight."