Geomagentic storm destroys dozens of Starlink satellites

Last Updated10/02/2022

Elon Musk’s Starlink has lost dozens of satellites that were caught in a geomagnetic storm a day after they were launched
It has impacted 40 of the 49 satellites, causing them to fall from orbit before they could be commissioned.

The satellites were deployed by the Rocket Falcon 9’s second stage into their intended orbit, with a perigee of approximately 210 km above Earth, and each satellite achieved controlled flight.
But later the deployed satellites were significantly impacted by a geomagnetic storm
As the satellites were designed to burn up on reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere so they did not create debris in space.

These are magnetic plasma ejected at great speed from the solar surface.
They occur during the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots (‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere)
It can last for a few minutes or hours.

Solar Flares: It is a sudden flash of increased brightness on the Sun that is generally seen near the surface and near a sunspot group. A coronal mass ejection is frequently, but not always, associated with powerful flares.
Coronal Mass Ejection: It is a significant release of plasma and accompanying magnetic field from the solar corona. They are frequently seen after solar flares and are usually seen during a solar prominence eruption.
Solar Particle Events: When particles (mainly protons) released by the Sun are propelled either near to the Sun during a flare or in interplanetary space by coronal mass ejection shocks, a solar particle event or solar proton event (SPE) or quick proton event occurs.

Space dependent services: these can hit operations of space-dependent services like global positioning systems (GPS), radio, and satellite communications.
Geomagnetic storms interfere with high-frequency radio communications and GPS navigation systems.
Aircraft flights, power grids, and space exploration programmes are vulnerable.
Magnetosphere: These can potentially create disturbances in the magnetosphere, the protective shield surrounding the Earth.
Astronauts: They can face health risks from possible exposure to solar radiation outside the Earth’s protective atmosphere during spacewalks
Northern lights: the creation of the “northern lights” which are seen in the regions around the Arctic Circle on Earth are also because of these events
Birds: Migrating animals which use magneto reception to navigate, such as birds and honey bees, might also be affected

Radio blackout over Indian ocean: It affected the radio communications of aviators and mariners
Solar storm of 1859: it struck the Earth with such high intensity that the northern lights were visible as far from the poles as Cuba and Hawaii.
Solar storm of 1921: it impacted the telegraph and railroad systems of New York

The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of high and low activity.
It also has a longer 100-year cycle.
During the last three decades, when the internet infrastructure was booming, this period became less, and soon either in this cycle or the next cycle there will be a peak of the 100-year cycle
So it is highly likely that a powerful solar storm can take place in the near future