Geomagnetic Storm destroyed 40 Starlink Satellites

A Geomagnetic Storm is a weather event in Space where there is a very efficient exchange of Energy from the Solar Wind into Space . About 40 satellites of Elon Musk’s SpaceX company have been damaged by the Geomagnetic Storm in Space. Space meteorologists believe that it will get worse in the coming years. In December 2019, the sun entered a new 11-year solar cycle, due to which there are massive upheaval going on in Space.

Elon Musk’s company SpaceX has suffered a major loss. SpaceX is planning to provide people with high-speed internet through satellite, for which they sent 49 high-speed satellites through their ambitious plan Starlink to deploy 210 km from the surface of the earth. . But these satellites have come under the grip of Geomagnetic Storm, due to which about 40 of these satellites have been destroyed. SpaceX said that the satellite had regained its control after launch. It is believed to be the biggest catastrophe caused by a geomagnetic event.

Why Is It Geomagnetic?

A geomagnetic storm is a seasonal phenomenon in space that occurs when an explosion occurs. For example, due to a powerful explosion, fire emanates from the surface of the sun. Such an explosion releases plasma and magnetic particles through space, which can hurt it while going towards the Earth. could damage satellites and damage the power grid as well as other electronic constructions. SpaceX said in its statement that due to such storms, heat and atmospheric density increase in the lower atmosphere where we deploy the satellite.

How Did Starlink’s Satellite Get Damaged?

On February 3, SpaceX launched 49 satellites from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The satellite was placed in an initial orbit near Earth for the final test before flying into space. The next day a geomagnetic storm warmed the atmosphere. Due to which the friction against the speed of the satellite was increased by 50 percent. The SpaceX team corrected the position of the spacecraft’s shield to protect it from storms and reduce friction, but estimates suggest that the spacecraft will no longer be able to carry most of the satellites into the operating room. This means that the company will have to bring 40 satellites into the earth’s atmosphere, although the company says that this does not mean that its debris will fall on the earth. Starlink has a total 1915 present in orbit who are working on this internet project. In such a situation, the loss of 40 is not a big deal.

The Solar Storm Ahead Could Get Worse

Storms in space are nothing new. Space meteorologists believe that it will get worse in the coming years. In December 2019, the sun entered a new 11-year solar cycle. With this the Sun is getting closer to its maximum and greatest solar activity, which is likely to happen in 2025. The solar cycle usually takes 11 years to go from one cycle to the next. It takes 9 to 14 years for one solar cycle to happen.

In the past few years, a large number of satellites have been deployed in low Earth orbit. Experts say that in the last 4 years alone, about 4000 small satellites have been launched, most of them operating in low orbit.

Geomagnetic Storm destroyed 40 Starlink Satellites

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