The International Space Station is specifically designed to withstand solar radiation, including radiation spikes due to solar flares. The ISS also orbits within Earth's magnetic field, which provides people on board further protection. Ironically, astronauts are actually safer from cosmic radiation during a solar flare than they would otherwise be, due to a phenomenon known as Forbush Decrease.
Grace Ryder: "You're calling from outer space?"
Tom Scanlon: "Wish I were...low earth orbit..."
Low earth orbit is by definition in outer space. (The previous lines establish that Scanlon is an astronaut on the International Space Station, which orbits just over 250 miles above Earth; the line between space and the atmosphere is variously defined as 50, 62, or 76 miles above Earth.)
Low earth orbit is by definition in outer space. (The previous lines establish that Scanlon is an astronaut on the International Space Station, which orbits just over 250 miles above Earth; the line between space and the atmosphere is variously defined as 50, 62, or 76 miles above Earth.)
When Marjan shows her malfunctioning iPhone to Strand, the screen shows analog noise and specifically CRT ghosting effects, which can only happen in tube displays. Digital flat panels, like ones in smartphones can't show analog noise because they are not analog (unless it's a pre-programmed digital simulation of analog noise). A malfunctioning digital display would show black pixels or flashing horizontal colored lines.