Due to a geomagnetic storm, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink project, which aims to supply global broadband service via a satellite constellation, has reportedly lost roughly forty of its satellites. On February 3rd, the satellites were launched, only to be hit by a storm the next day.
According to SpaceX, the storm, which was produced by solar eruptions, destroyed more than half of the Starlink satellites sent into orbit on Thursday. In the coming days, the now-disbanded satellites are likely to fall back to Earth and burn up in the atmosphere.
According to an official blog post, the storm produced up to 50% more drag than prior launches, preventing the newly launched satellites from reaching their ideal orbit around the Earth.
SpaceX’s ISP business recently stated that it has launched over 2,000 satellites and plans to launch over 12,000 more in order to test its space-based internet service. So, while the loss of 40 rockets may not have had a significant impact on the overall statistic, it was still a costly one, with nearly the Falcon 9 rocket’s entire payload being destroyed as a result.
However, with space debris and clutter becoming a rising worry in recent years, and Starlink’s satellites under criticism for plans to send thousands more satellites into orbit, the firm utilized this opportunity to highlight the minute impact that its satellites had on the sky.
To read our blog on “In the worst-case scenario, Elon Musk claims that SpaceX will transport humans to Mars in ten years,” click here.
