Due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a recent solar outburst, 40 out of 49 newly launched Starlink satellites have been disabled and are entering Earth's atmosphere to be destroyed. This event underscores the risks for companies planning to launch thousands of small satellites for internet service from space, as more solar outbursts could potentially knock out additional satellites. The sun follows an 11-year cycle of activity, ranging from hyperactive to calm states. At the moment, the sun is increasing in activity and is expected to reach its peak around 2025. This recent solar event was considered moderate compared to previous occurrences. Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert from the University of Southampton, believes that a more severe event is likely to occur during the next solar cycle. If a mild solar event can already cause damage to satellites, a stronger solar event could have a more significant impact on megaconstellations like SpaceX's Starlink. SpaceX has already announced the potential destruction of 40 satellites due to the impending solar activity. The company stated that following the launch, the satellites were placed into their designated orbit, approximately 130 miles above Earth. This specific altitude was selected in part to prevent potential collisions with other satellites in the future. If the satellites experience issues after being released at this height and are unable to elevate their orbits to more secure levels, it was mentioned that the atmosphere would quickly dispose of the failed technology. This was highlighted as a beneficial safety precaution. However, on January 29, prior to the satellite launch, a powerful eruption from the sun containing highly energetic particles and magnetism, known as a coronal mass ejection, was observed. This ejection reached Earth around February 2, causing a geomagnetic storm within Earth's magnetic field. The intense storm added energy to particles in Earth's atmosphere, causing it to expand and increase in density. This increased drag on objects moving through the atmosphere, including satellites, causing their orbits to shrink and bringing them closer to the lower atmosphere where they would burn up. SpaceX reported that during a recent Starlink deployment, the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase by up to 50%, leading to the loss of 40 out of 49 satellites due to gravity. Currently, there are 1,915 Starlink satellites orbiting, so losing up to 40 is not a major concern for SpaceX, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. However, this loss could potentially amount to $100 million in hardware costs. The dangers of solar outbursts and geomagnetic storms to objects in low-Earth orbit are well documented, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorizing geomagnetic storms from minor to extreme. These storms can cause electrical damage and communication disruptions. Considering these risks, it is important to question whether SpaceX considered this hazard during the Starlink deployment. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina in Canada, expressed her surprise and disbelief at the situation, while McDowell also found it unexpected. A SpaceX representative mentioned that the team was unavailable to answer questions due to a busy period. The fact that the satellites are entering the atmosphere quickly and do not pose a threat to people on the ground is seen as positive. Lewis stated that the system operated safely as intended, with the satellites de-orbiting without causing any additional risks. Satellites at higher altitudes typically avoid atmospheric expansion hazards, but lower altitude satellites remain at risk. This raises concerns about SpaceX's ability to continue deploying spacecraft at lower altitudes. Lewis explained that as the sun becomes more active, it releases more extreme ultraviolet radiation, which is absorbed into the atmosphere. This will cause a significant expansion of the atmosphere, leading to a predicted increase in atmospheric density by one or two orders of magnitude. This represents a much larger change compared to the recent event. Numerous astronomers have expressed concerns about Starlink and other satellite constellations, as they can reflect sunlight and potentially disrupt telescope research on Earth. Some view this situation as indicative of SpaceX's approach to issues in low-Earth orbit. According to Lewis, if something goes wrong, SpaceX works to correct it and improve for the future, focusing on hindsight rather than foresight. The loss of these satellites serves as a tough lesson for SpaceX. Lawler stated that the outcome will be determined by their actions, and he expressed his wish that this will help them see things more clearly.