[SFDXA] Geomagnetic Storm Brings Down Starlink Satellites

[Bill]

*Space Weather News for Feb. 9, 2022*
https://spaceweather.com 
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*GEOMAGNETC STORM BRINGS DOWN STARLINK SATELLITES:* As many as 40 
Starlink satellites are currently falling out of the sky--the surprising 
result of a minor geomagnetic storm last week. This is a cautionary 
tale: Even relatively mild space weather can have big consequences. 
Reentry videos and more @ Spaceweather.com 
<https://Spaceweather.us11.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0c5fce34d5ca05f64a13d085d&id=9361ab67a3&e=d71faae82a>.

/February 8, 2022/
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/GEOMAGNETIC STORM AND RECENTLY DEPLOYED STARLINK SATELLITES/
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/On Thursday, February 3 at 1:13 p.m. EST, Falcon 9 //launched 
<https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl4-7/>//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 orbits 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. /

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