Solar Storms Are Pushing Elon Musk’s Satellites Back to Earth

New research gives that suggestions Higher solar activity shortens the lifetime of the Sterlink satellite of SpaceXAnd can send them back to the earth at a greater pace. Perhaps involuntarily, it can increase the risk of landslides in satellite debris.

This print study, which has not yet been reviewed in the peer, shows which it adds a large amount of evidence Solar storms destroyed the sterlinks of Elon KastorThe Over the past several years, the frequency and intensity of these storms has increased as the sun moves towards the solar maximum-at the top of the 11-year cycle. At the same time, the number of satellites that orbit the earth is touching the sky, Originally due to the emergence of personal megaconsteles like StarlinkThe

A group of researchers led by Denny Olivira from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center tracked the Sterling satellite’s restries between 2021 and 2021.

For these five years, 523 Sterling satellite has re -entered the Earth’s atmosphere. Olivira and his colleagues have analyzed the orbitals of these satellites using a statistical technique that identifies the pattern of their orbital erosion and re -entry rates during high solar activities.

Researchers have discovered that the geometric activity is the Surride Surride Solar explosion is this satellite in the above atmosphere expecticiation. Design Stay in orbit for about five years. However, during the severe geographical storm, their lifetime may decrease by 10 to 12 days, Olivira told Gizmodo.

He and his colleagues believe that this happens because geometric activity heateds the atmosphere and expands it. It enhances satellites, shortens their lifetime, and contact the upper atmosphere as it can lose their height more quickly. What is more, atmospheric drag can increase the chances of collisions in satellite-on-suatellite, because the orbital models that guide the collisions do not fully account for the effects of geomagnetic activities. Party searchs are currently available on the preprint server ArxativeThe

Olivira explained that a difference of 10 to 12 days does not sound like a big deal, but it can be almost impossible for SpaceX to make sure that the satellite satellites return to the earth through controlled rentry, the Olivis explained. What is more, his analysis shows that the increased drag satellites can re -enter the higher velocity, which he believes can increase the chances of the ruins reaching the ground.

It may seem to be the opposite, as the velocity of an object during the restri usually increases the chances of gross isolation. Olivis, however, have posted that the sterlinks may have better survival due to the reduction of atmospheric interactions due to the reduction of atmospheric interactions. Further research needs to confirm this hypothesis, as the study does not directly evaluate the risks of the debris.

The sterlinks are designed to fully burning when re -entering, but this does not always happen. In 2024, a 5.5 pound (2.5-kilogram) of Sterlink debris created a landfall on a farm in Saskatoan, a new scientist ReportThe In February this year, SpaceX D The pieces of Sterlink debris are possible to return to Earth, but claim that it is “there is no risk for humans in the ground, sea or in the air.”

Harvard University astronomer Jonathan McDell, who has more than 7,500 Starlinks in orbit Track The constellation. Finally, SpaceX hopes that the size of this fleet will quintuple with the goal of launching 42,000 starlinks in total Space.comThe It currently circulates the earth in addition to thousands of other satellites.

“[This is] For the first time in history, we have a lot of satellites in orbit at the same time, “Olivis said. And perhaps, in the next months or years, every day.”