Due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a recent solar outburst, 40 out of 49 newly launched Starlink satellites have been disabled and are now reentering Earth's atmosphere to be burned up. This event underscores the risks involved for companies aiming to deploy thousands of small satellites for internet service in space. There is a possibility that future solar outbursts could also disrupt these orbital transmitters, as the sun operates on an 11-year cycle of activity. At the moment, the sun is increasing in activity and is expected to reach its peak around 2025. This recent solar outburst was considered mild compared to previous events. Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert, believes that a more severe event is likely to occur during the next solar cycle. If a relatively weak solar event can disrupt 40 Starlink satellites, a stronger solar event could cause even more damage to the satellite constellations of companies like SpaceX. SpaceX announced the potential loss of up to 40 satellites in a blog post on Tuesday. The company stated that following the launch, the satellites were placed into their designated orbit, which is approximately 130 miles above Earth. This specific altitude was selected in part to avoid potential collisions with other satellites in the future. If the satellites experience issues after being deployed at this altitude and are unable to adjust their orbits to safer levels, they will be quickly reclaimed by the atmosphere, according to Lewis, providing a good safety precaution. However, on Jan 29, before the launch of these satellites, 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 Feb 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% compared to previous launches, leading to the eventual loss of 40 out of 49 satellites. Currently, there are a total of 1,915 Starlink satellites orbiting in space, so losing up to 40 of them is not a significant issue for SpaceX according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at Harvard and the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. However, Lewis mentioned that this loss could potentially amount to $100 million in hardware costs, including the launch expenses. The dangers posed by solar outbursts and geomagnetic storms to objects in low-Earth orbit are well-documented, with potential risks including electrical damage and disruptions to communications. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorizes geomagnetic storms on a scale from minor to extreme, with the most recent storm being classified as "moderate" and capable of causing changes in atmospheric drag that may affect orbits. With these risks in mind, it raises the question of whether SpaceX considered this hazard during the deployment of Starlink satellites. Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina in Canada, expressed her surprise at the situation, stating she was dumbfounded. McDowell also found it unexpected and mentioned that they should have been prepared for it. A SpaceX media representative mentioned that the team was unavailable to answer questions due to a demanding time. The fact that the satellites are entering the atmosphere quickly and do not pose a threat to anyone on the ground is seen as a positive development. Lewis stated that the system performed as expected in terms of safety, with the satellites de-orbiting without posing any risk. While most satellites orbit at higher altitudes and can avoid atmospheric expansion hazards, those at lower altitudes remain vulnerable. This raises concerns about SpaceX's ability to continue deploying spacecraft at low altitudes. Lewis explained that as the sun becomes more active, it emits more extreme ultraviolet radiation, which is absorbed into our atmosphere, causing it to expand significantly. The anticipated result is a substantial increase in atmospheric density by one or two orders of magnitude. Many astronomers have expressed concern 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, with a focus on fixing problems after they occur rather than preventing them in advance. According to Lewis, the destruction of these satellites serves as a tough lesson for SpaceX. Lawler stated that the outcome is in their hands and expressed a hope that they will gain some understanding from the situation.