Science
Solar Storms Force 500+ Starlink Satellites To Re-Enter Earth’s Atmosphere Prematurely
Since the sun has started destroying Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites, scientists have raised the alarm.
The sun’s activity has increased significantly since it achieved its solar maximum, the highest point of its 11-year cycle.
The northern and southern light displays are the product of geomagnetic storms brought on by the sun’s enhanced activity and solar flares.
Magnetic activity is especially erratic during this time, and every solar storm has the potential to cause some little disruption.
Musk’s satellites appear to be the sun’s most recent target.
The Earth is growing larger due to the heating of the atmosphere caused by the solar storms, which increases the drag on the satellites that orbit it.
Speaking to the NewScientist, Denny Oliveira from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center said, “We found that when we have geomagnetic storms, satellites re-enter faster than expected [without solar activity].”
According to Oliveira and his team’s analysis of the impact this was having on Starlink, satellite lifetimes can be shortened by up to 10 days during solar maximum.
Oliveira went on to say, “It’s the first time in history we have so many satellites re-entering at the same time.”
“In a few years, we will have satellites re-entering every day.”
This means that while the constellation is restocked with new satellites, satellites are returned to our atmosphere.
Samantha Lawler, who is from the University of Regina in Canada, added: “This is the first solar maximum that we’ve had in the mega constellation era.”
Even though SpaceX satellites have been affected by these solar storms, the company may benefit from them by being encouraged to remove dead satellites from orbit as soon as possible to prevent them from endangering other satellites in orbit.
Additionally, faster re-entry may increase the likelihood that satellites may return to Earth without totally burning up.
Oliveira made the point, saying, “You could have a chance of an object reaching the ground.”
This was the situation in August of last year when a fragment of a Starlink satellite, weighing more than five pounds, was found on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada.
It is the only component of any Starlink satellite that has so far been known to survive re-entry.
Speaking about this part of Canada, Lawler added, “This is the easiest place in the world to find Starlink debris. If we found one [piece] here, how many did we miss?”
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