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SpaceX loses 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm a day after launch

A powerful magnetic storm takes out most of a batch of Starlink satellites the day after launch.

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A powerful magnetic storm takes out most of a batch of Starlink satellites the day after launch.

Highlights

  • A powerful magnetic storm takes out most of a batch of Starlink satellites the day after launch.
  • The drag was strong enough to stop the satellites ever getting out of that “safe mode” and back into orbit they needed to reach to be stable.
  • Instead, “up to 40” will fall back into the Earth’s atmosphere and burn up.
  • The satellites will never be able to get back in orbit they need to reach their orbit for a stable orbit to reach stable orbit in order to have stable orbit, experts say.