Solar magnetic storm destroys 40 satellites Musk SpaceX is afraid to spew nearly $50 million

Elon Musk, the world's richest man. (Photo/Reuters)

SpaceX, a space technology company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, launched 49 low-orbit satellites last week, but unexpectedly, the company said on the 9th that 40 of them were hit by solar magnetic storms, causing the satellites to disengage and burn. According to US media estimates, the accident may cause SpaceX to lose nearly $50 million.

The US Space Exploration Technology Corporation (SpaceX) just launched 49 satellites on the 3rd, entering the orbit 210 kilometers above the earth, but was hit by a solar magnetic storm on the 4th. According to SpaceX, due to the speed and intensity of the solar magnetic storm, the Earth's atmosphere warmed, increasing the atmospheric density of the low orbital altitude, which in turn caused the satellite to produce strong friction and resistance during operation, and at least 40 satellites were impacted.

Although SpaceX did not disclose the relevant loss amount, according to CNBC estimates, SpaceX had previously revealed that the cost of launching satellites was about $30 million, and with the estimated cost of each satellite, the solar magnetic storm may cost Musk's space career nearly $50 million.

However, SpaceX announced that the company had long anticipated this possibility, predicting that the satellite would be burned up during re-entry into the atmosphere, so the chance of "hitting the earth" was zero. It is reported that the phenomenon of solar magnetic storms is caused by a powerful explosion on the surface of the sun, and the plasma and magnetic field released are enough to impact the earth.