SpaceX could lose nearly all of the Starlink satellites it launched last week.
The company has explained a statement, that one day after deploying 49 of its Starlink satellites (Thursday, February 3) a geomagnetic storm hit Earth’s outer atmosphere. This phenomenon produced a change in the atmospheric density, which caused that 40 of the satellites could not be placed in their correct altitude and orbit.
The Starlink team instructed the satellites to enter a safe mode to minimize drag and effectively shield themselves from the storm, but the increased drag at those low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe mode to begin with. lifting maneuvers towards orbit.
The company says the satellites will eventually burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, preventing it from becoming dangerous space debris. SpaceX points out that the satellites do not present a risk of collision with the Earth. Nor will they be a threat to other satellites in orbit.
Since 2019, SpaceX has launched more than 2,000 Starlink satellites (with the intention of reaching 4,400) to offer Internet service from space. This service currently has more than 145,000 customers in 25 countries. According to the company, its service can provide connectivity to remote areas.
Last month in Spain, several people reported the fall of an object that they could see in the night sky. Shortly after, it was confirmed that it was a Starlink satellite that was put into orbit in January 2021. The fall of the satellite caused a fireball that entered the Earth’s atmosphere at a speed of about 27,000 kilometers per hour.
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