Posted on 02/08/2022 7:24:57 PM PST by zeestephen
Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink just got dealt an expensive blow — the company's currently estimating that 40 of the 49 Starlink satellites it launched on February 3rd will be destroyed because of a geomagnetic storm. The storm caused "up to 50 percent higher drag than during previous launches," keeping the deployed satellites from reaching their proper orbit around the Earth.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Let me get this straight, the satellites are supposed to be far out but instead a drag created a bummer?
SpaceX engineers and US Space command would like to disagree.
“FEBURARY 8, 2022.
GEOMAGNETIC STORM AND RECENTLY DEPLOYED STARLINK SATELLITES
On Thursday, February 3 at 1:13 p.m. EST, Falcon 9 launched 49 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon 9’s second stage deployed the satellites into their intended orbit, with a perigee of approximately 210 kilometers above Earth, and each satellite achieved controlled flight.
SpaceX deploys its satellites into these lower obits so that in the very rare case any satellite does not pass initial system checkouts it will quickly be deorbited by atmospheric drag. While the low deployment altitude requires more capable satellites at a considerable cost to us, it’s the right thing to do to maintain a sustainable space environment.
Unfortunately, the satellites deployed on Thursday were significantly impacted by a geomagnetic storm on Friday. These storms cause the atmosphere to warm and atmospheric density at our low deployment altitudes to increase. In fact, onboard GPS suggests the escalation speed and severity of the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase up to 50 percent higher than during previous launches. The Starlink team commanded the satellites into a safe-mode where they would fly edge-on (like a sheet of paper) to minimize drag—to effectively “take cover from the storm”—and continued to work closely with the Space Force’s 18th Space Control Squadron and LeoLabs to provide updates on the satellites based on ground radars.
Preliminary analysis show the increased drag at the low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe-mode to begin orbit raising maneuvers, and up to 40 of the satellites will reenter or already have reentered the Earth’s atmosphere. The deorbiting satellites pose zero collision risk with other satellites and by design demise upon atmospheric reentry—meaning no orbital debris is created and no satellite parts hit the ground. This unique situation demonstrates the great lengths the Starlink team has gone to ensure the system is on the leading edge of on-orbit debris mitigation.”
Oh but wait it gets better if a larger CME lights off and earth is on the right side of the sun to get smacked its biblical level of bad times. Lloyds of London doesn’t hyperventilate over things they are the worlds authority on risk management if they get worked up over something pay attention your life does depend on it.
No, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast.
Thank you for that post - really interesting.
That’s the trouble with trying new things - one runs the risk of running into new problems. A learning experience to be sure.
SpaceX used to launch them at 360km but if a sat fails it takes years for it to naturally decay and reenter. SpaceX is doing the right thing here by launching them into a purposely low elliptical orbit they ensure that if a sat goes black it comes down in days not years. The reason they lost these was not the extra drag it was software that once under a certain altitude and orbital velocity wouldn’t let the sats exit safe mode and use their ion engines to raise the orbit. They can and almost assuredly will change that code to allow a manual override. These sats carry plenty of fuel a 50% increase in drag would likely not pulled them back if they had full thrust on tap. It comes down to Delta V of fuel on board vs Delta V needed with the increased drag. They would still have 40 sats if they were up higher at 300+ km they are the only ones so far committed to zero orbital junk they reenter the second stages as well. The sats themselves burn up to tiny pieces none reaches the ground. Bravo SpaceX
Man, that sux ricks.
I’m a big fan of Elon. One heck ofa guy. And he trolls libs on twit mightily.
I like how SpaceX prides themselves on zero debris. Of course that is also for their own benefit so their NUMEROUS (plethera of?) sats aren’t crashing into each other. I wonder if SpaceX is confined to a certain level of orbit “licensed” to them. Like a radio station is licensed at a certain frequency so as not to disturb other stations.
That must be REALLY complicated. And then add in all of the other countries with stuff up there, and then rogue countries (North Korea) that probably don’t even consult or know what is up there and they lob crap up.
So, they burn up on re-entry so that there is no ground debris. That means they are creating air pollution. We are literally breathing in Elon’s space junk and/or the remnant micro-particles are deposited worldwide. What is the impact of that?
You sound ridiculous. A few small satellites burning up during reentry is not a health concern.
Solar storms do increase drag in earth orbit. That is a fact.
Thanks. That clears up exactly what happened. Has enough info to understand what they are saying.
That is why they are are not intelligent. They are fake.
That is just like some of the popup weather forecasts that seem to be 10 degrees off for my location.
guilty
OK
“hundreds”
Tbiusabds
Have another Gator! LOL!
Ok, so the nonsensical statement that the magnetic storm caused this, is misleading, since it was a chain of events. The storm caused an increase in atmospheric density, which then impacted the satellites.
How did spellcheck do that?
It happened.
Stop digging your grave.
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