An illustration depicting satellites in a disturbed near-Earth space environment. Credit: Souvik Roy, CESSI.
Despite mild space weather conditions, 38 of SpaceX’s 49 Starlink satellites came crashing down in 2022, due to placement in low earth orbits and increased atmospheric drag owing to satellite design11.
Scientists say these satellites, launched amidst a moderate geomagnetic storm that persisted several days, may have failed unexpectedly due to a combination of reasons. 11 satellites survived the low-altitude insertion possibly due to orbit-raising maneouvres, they say.
Solar physicists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata modeled the disturbances in the near-Earth space environment and analysed the increased atmospheric drag — factors that may have led to orbital decay. They studied how these factors gradually lowered the satellites off their intended orbits back into the Earth's atmosphere, where they burned up or crashed.
The magnetohydrodynamic model established the already disturbed space environment. Comparison of satellite orbital decay showed that space weather was not solely responsible but caused the debacle along with low-altitude insertion and a low satellite mass-to-area ratio.
The researchers urge closer collaboration between space agencies, private satellite operators, space physicists and engineers to lessen such impacts of space environment on technologies.
