SpaceX satellites falling out of orbit after solar storm

[hridge2020]

SpaceX satellites falling out of orbit after solar storm
SpaceX's newest fleet of satellites is tumbling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- SpaceX’s newest fleet of satellites is tumbling out of orbit after being struck by a solar storm.

Up to 40 of the 49 small satellites launched last week have either reentered the atmosphere and burned up, or are on the verge of doing so, the company said in an online update Tuesday night.

SpaceX said a geomagnetic storm last Friday made the atmosphere denser, which increased the drag on the Starlink satellites, effectively dooming them.

Ground controllers tried to save the compact, flat-panel satellites by putting them into a type of hibernation and flying them in a way to minimize drag. But the atmospheric pull was too great, and the satellites failed to awaken and climb to a higher, more stable orbit, according to the company.

SpaceX still has close to 2,000 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth and providing internet service to remote corners of the world. They circle the globe more than 340 miles up (550 kilometers).

The satellites hit by the solar storm were in a temporary position. SpaceX deliberately launches them into this unusually low orbit so that any duds can quickly reenter the atmosphere and pose no threat to other spacecraft.

There is no danger from these newly falling satellites, either in orbit or on the ground, according to the company.

Each satellite weighs less than 575 pounds (260 kilograms).

SpaceX described the lost satellites as a “unique situation." Such geomagnetic storms are caused by intense solar activity like flares, which can send streams of plasma from the sun's corona hurtling out into space and toward Earth.

Since launching the first Starlink satellites in 2019, Elon Musk envisions a constellation of thousands more satellites to increase internet service. SpaceX is trying to help restore internet service to Tonga through this network following the devastating volcanic eruption and tsunami.

London-based OneWeb has its own internet satellites up there. And Amazon plans to start launching its satellites later this year.

Astronomers are distressed that these mega constellations will ruin nighttime observations from Earth. The International Astronomical Union is forming a new center for the protection of dark skies.


Also a segment of a booster launch 7 years ago is on course to impact moon.

Source

Sponsored

 

[charliemagpie]

What are the odds..

A good conspiracy could be that they were downed by a hostile nation.

 

[Crissa]

When you launch thousands, you're going to start encountering stuff. In this case, bad weather.

Getting caught in the magnetic null points can really mess up a satellite; not only can the atmosphere reach up and grab it - it gets exposed to more high-energy particles which messes up their computer memory and electrical systems.

My spouse worked on a satellite that was in polar orbit and it ended up safemoding almost every time it went through the South Atlantic Anomaly. It was a big pain making sure the science data did not drift while the computers were inoperable.

-Crissa

 

[John K]

Or… satellites were never launched, trash was sent up and insurance fraud ensued. Reminds of the urban legend, someone insured 24 Cuban cigars individually and filed a claim after smoking them claiming they were destroyed in a fire,

Person won the case to receive compensation and then was arrested for 24 counts of arson.

Morale of story, conspiracy is afoot! Whackier equals credibility and… Aliens.


Concludes my nonsense post for the night

 

[CyberGus]

Range anxiety...in space

dang

 

[Ogre]

An epic solar storm is one of those events that could very nearly destroy the global economy.

Imagine if 90% of satellites and 40% of computers on earth just stopped working. Banks, businesses, governments, police communications, logistics, navigation, etc would just stop working all at once.

Not a high risk thing, but something which has happened in the past.

Hopefully the 3mm shell will offer some protection for the Cybertruck’s sensitive electronics. Y’all have low-tech solar setups at home for charging right?

 

[John K]

An epic solar storm is one of those events that could very nearly destroy the global economy.

Imagine if 90% of satellites and 40% of computers on earth just stopped working. Banks, businesses, governments, police communications, logistics, navigation, etc would just stop working all at once.

Not a high risk thing, but something which has happened in the past.

Hopefully the 3mm shell will offer some protection for the Cybertruck’s sensitive electronics. Y’all have low-tech solar setups at home for charging right?

The true motivation behind the offline apps?

CT will be fried too. ?

 

[Ogre]

The true motivation behind the offline apps?

CT will be fried too. ?

Very likely.

One of the sort-of bummer’s about modern cars is the reliance on sophisticated electronics.

Maybe the faraday cage I’m building to park my truck in will pay off.

 

[Eye of Elon]

Somebody is going to get fired, it's not like solar storms are a surprise event.

 

[Friday]

One of my customers, and one of the most impressive people I've ever met in real life was responsible for forecasting solar events in the early days of space flight. His stories were nothing less than spectacular. He also was responsible for the Old Farmer's Almanac weather forecasts. I found him to be a sweet and kind person IRL also. Not a typical cold, emotionless scientist stereotype. He said it was more art than science predicting solar discharges. The sun is still a mystery due to our short history studying it.

Unfortunately, the best description of Dr. Head is his obit, but it is beautifully written.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/montereyherald/name/richard-head-obituary?id=8149513

Sponsored