US EditionThe sun is killing off SpaceX's Starlink satellites
- In late 2024, heightened solar activity during the sun’s 11-year cycle peak accelerated re-entry of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites into Earth's atmosphere.
- This happened because bursts of solar activity, including intense eruptions from the sun, caused geomagnetic storms that heated and expanded Earth's upper atmosphere, resulting in increased drag on satellites orbiting close to Earth.
- NASA researchers tracked 523 Starlink satellites re-entering between 2020 and 2024, noting re-entry times dropped from over 15 days to as low as five days during geomagnetic events, with 37 satellites re-entering in five days in one instance.
- In August 2024, a metal piece weighing 2.5 kilograms from a Starlink satellite was recovered on a farm in Canada, marking the sole confirmed case of Starlink debris surviving atmospheric re-entry, while experts caution that solar storms introduce substantial errors in re-entry forecasts and complicate satellite operations.
- Although this increased drag shortens satellite lifespans and complicates operations, some experts suggest it may aid space debris removal by accelerating the natural deorbiting of defunct satellites.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Sun's unpredictable outbursts are forcing satellites back to Earth sooner
A 2.5-kilogram chunk of metal found on a Canadian farm in August 2024 has become a symbol of a growing dilemma in space exploration. The fragment – identified as part of a SpaceX Starlink satellite – highlights an unintended consequence of the satellite boom: the sun's unpredictable behavior is pulling...Read Entire Article
The sun is killing off SpaceX's Starlink satellites
There have never been so many satellites orbiting Earth as there are today, thanks in part to the launch of mega constellations like SpaceX's Starlink internet service - and now we are learning just how the sun's activity can affect them
Sun’s Outbrust Is Leading To Space Debris
The Sun’s unpredictable outbursts are causing satellites to return to Earth sooner than anticipated, occasionally leaving debris behind. The Sun is currently approaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, known as solar maximum. During this period, the Sun’s eruptions trigger powerful geomagnetic storms that affect Earth’s atmosphere. These geomagnetic storms heat and expand Earth’s upper atmosphere. This expansion increases atmospheric dra…
Globally, 2.9k objects were placed in orbit in 2024; 3.6k added to debris - The Times of India - Daily news Update
A dense cluster of defunct satellites and fragmented metal orbits Earth. (AI-generated image) BENGALURU: Globally, 2024 continued to see a significant number of space launches, with 261 attempts and 254 successes, resulting in 2,578 operational satellites and a total of 2,963 objects placed in orbit, although the total objects placed in orbit is slightly lower than the 3,135 objects from 212 launches in 2023.Revealing these details, the These ev…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 100% of the sources are Center
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
