Due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a recent solar flare, nearly 40 out of 49 newly launched Starlink satellites have been disabled and are now descending into Earth's atmosphere to be burned up. This event underscores the risks encountered by many companies aiming to deploy thousands of small satellites in orbit to offer internet connectivity from space. There is a possibility that additional solar flares could disrupt these newly deployed satellites in the future, as the sun operates on an 11-year cycle of varying activity levels. Currently, the sun is increasing in activity and is expected to reach its peak around 2025. Although the recent solar event was not very intense, experts believe that a more severe event is likely to occur during the next cycle. This poses a potential threat to satellite constellations like Starlink, with SpaceX already announcing the possible destruction of 40 satellites due to the recent solar activity. The company stated that the satellites were released to their intended orbit, located approximately 130 miles above Earth, in order to prevent potential collisions with other satellites in the future. If the satellites malfunction at this altitude and cannot be raised to a more secure height, they will quickly be pulled back into the atmosphere, which serves as a safety measure. However, on Jan 29, before the launch of these satellites, a violent outburst of highly energetic particles and magnetism from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, was detected. This ejection reached Earth around Feb 2, causing a geomagnetic storm in 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, leading to a decrease in their orbits and ultimately causing them to burn up in the lower atmosphere. SpaceX reported that during a recent Starlink deployment, the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase by up to 50%, resulting in the loss of 40 out of 49 satellites due to gravity. Currently, there are 1,915 Starlink satellites in orbit, so losing up to 40 is not a major concern for SpaceX, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. However, Lewis estimates the loss could amount to up to $100 million in hardware costs. The potential dangers of solar outbursts and geomagnetic storms on objects in low-Earth orbit are well-documented, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorizing geomagnetic storms from minor to extreme. The agency notes that even a moderate storm could affect atmospheric drag and alter orbits. Given these risks, it raises the question of 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. Jonathan McDowell also found it unexpected and thought they should have been prepared. A SpaceX representative mentioned that their team was busy and unable to answer questions. The satellites entering the atmosphere quickly instead of staying in low-Earth orbit is seen as a positive development and not a threat to those on the ground. Lewis stated that the system performed as expected in terms of safety, with the satellites de-orbiting without putting anything else at risk. While most satellites orbit at higher altitudes and are not affected by atmospheric expansion, those at lower altitudes still face threats. This situation raises concerns about whether SpaceX can continue deploying spacecraft at this lower altitude. Lewis explained that as the sun becomes more active, it emits more extreme ultraviolet radiation that is absorbed into the atmosphere, causing it to expand significantly. This is expected to result in a significant increase in atmospheric density by one or two orders of magnitude. Many astronomers have expressed concerns about Starlink and other satellite constellations, as they reflect sunlight and may disrupt telescope research on Earth. Some view this incident as indicative of SpaceX's approach to issues in low-Earth orbit - addressing problems after they occur rather than anticipating them. The destruction of these satellites serves as a difficult lesson for SpaceX, according to Lewis. Lawler added that the outcome is dependent on them and expressed his hope that this will help them see reason.