The Anik E2 Satellite Failure

What happened

A geomagnetic disturbance driven by a high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole caused electrostatic discharge that knocked out the momentum-wheel control systems on Telesat Canada's Anik E1 and E2 communications satellites. Anik E1 recovered within hours via a backup system; Anik E2 remained non-operational until June 1994, disrupting Canadian television, data, and remote telephone service for months.