The Reference News Network reported on February 11 that the latest batch of satellites of the United States Space Exploration Technology Company was de-orbited after being affected by a solar storm, according to the Associated Press on Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 9. In its latest release on Tuesday night, the company said that as many as 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week were about to fall into the atmosphere or have burned.
Space Exploration Technologies said a magnetic storm on Friday led to an increase in atmospheric density, which sharply increased the atmospheric resistance to the "Starlink" satellites.
Ground controllers tried to save the satellites by putting them into some sort of dormancy and letting them fly with minimal drag. But according to the company, atmospheric drag was too great for the satellites to climb to higher, more stable orbits.
Space Exploration Technologies still reportedly still has nearly 2,000 Starlink satellites orbiting the earth and providing internet services to remote corners of the world.
Satellites affected by solar storms are in temporary positions. Space Exploration Technologies intends to put them into low-Earth orbit so that any problematic satellites can quickly re-enter the atmosphere and pose no threat to other spacecraft.
The company said the satellites that had just fallen would not pose a danger, either in orbit or falling. Each satellite weighs less than 260 kilograms.
Space Exploration Technologies called the lost satellites "exceptional circumstances." Geomagnetic storms are caused by intense solar activity such as flares.
Since the launch of the first Starlink satellites in 2019, Elon Musk envisions launching more satellites to increase internet service. In the wake of devastating volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, Space Exploration Technologies is working to help Tonga restore internet service through the network.
One.com also has its own Internet satellites, while Amazon plans to start launching satellites later this year.
Astronomers are distressed that these massive constellations of satellites will disrupt nighttime observations. The International Astronomical Union is forming a new center to protect dark skies.
Source: Reference News Network
![Now it seems that Musk's Starlink plan is also a huge risk. Not two days ago, an ordinary solar storm scraped down 40 of the 49 satellites musk had just launched, tens of millions of dollars[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)