Technology and media ,
Feb 09, 09:16
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SpaceX: up to 40 Starlink satellites will be lost due to geomagnetic storm
The satellites were unable to overcome the atmospheric resistance increased by 50% and collapsed before contact with the ground
The American private aerospace company SpaceX will lose about 40 of the 49 Starlink Internet satellites launched into orbit on February 3 as a result of a geomagnetic storm. About it reported on the company’s website.
“Unfortunately, the satellites deployed in [прошлый] Thursday, were badly damaged by a geomagnetic storm on Friday <...>. Preliminary analysis indicates that increased low-altitude drag prevented them from exiting safe mode to begin orbit-raising maneuvers, with up to 40 satellites re-entering or already re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The company assured that “the risk of collision with other satellites is zero.” The design of Starlink provides for complete destruction upon entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, the fall of debris on the planet or (in a different outcome of events) the formation of space debris is excluded.
Falcon 9 launch vehicle brought out 49 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit on Thursday, February 3rd. This is the sixth successful launch using such a launch vehicle.