Due to a geomagnetic storm caused by a recent solar outburst, 40 out of 49 newly launched Starlink satellites have been disabled and are currently reentering Earth's atmosphere to be burned up. This event underscores the risks faced by companies looking to deploy thousands of small satellites for internet service from space, as future solar outbursts could potentially disrupt more of these satellites. The sun operates on an 11-year cycle of activity and inactivity. At the moment, the sun is increasing in activity and is expected to reach its peak around 2025. This recent solar event was considered mild compared to what the sun is capable of. Hugh Lewis, a space debris expert, believes that a more severe event is likely to occur during the next solar cycle. If a minor solar flare can damage 40 Starlink satellites, a stronger one could cause even more harm to SpaceX and other companies with megaconstellations. SpaceX confirmed the potential loss of 40 satellites in a recent blog post. The company stated that following the launch, the satellites were released into their planned orbit, situated approximately 130 miles above Earth. This height was selected in part to prevent potential collisions with other satellites in the future. If the satellites experience issues after being deployed at this altitude and are unable to raise their orbits to more secure levels, "the atmosphere quickly reclaims the failed technology," according to Lewis. This serves as a good safety precaution. However, on Jan 29, prior to the launch of these satellites, a powerful eruption of highly energetic particles and magnetism from the sun, known as a coronal mass ejection, was observed. This ejection reached Earth around Feb 2, leading to 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, causing their orbits to shrink and draw closer to the lower atmosphere where they would burn up. During a recent Starlink deployment, SpaceX reported that the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase by up to 50% compared to previous launches, 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 Harvard and the Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. However, Lewis estimates that the loss could be up to $100 million in hardware costs. The risks of solar outbursts and geomagnetic storms to objects in low-Earth orbit are well documented, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration categorizing storms from minor to extreme. The recent "moderate" storm could potentially alter orbits due to changes in atmospheric drag. Given these risks, it raises the question of whether SpaceX considered this hazard during the Starlink deployment. "I am surprised," said Samantha Lawler, an astronomer at the University of Regina in Canada. "Did they really not anticipate this?" Jonathan McDowell also expressed his surprise, stating, "It is unexpected. One would have assumed they were prepared for this." A SpaceX media representative, when reached by email, mentioned that the team was too busy to respond to questions. The fact that these satellites are entering the atmosphere quickly rather than staying in low-Earth orbit is actually positive, and they do not pose any danger to people on the ground. Lewis stated that the system functioned correctly in terms of safety, with the satellites de-orbiting without posing any risk. Most satellites orbit at higher altitudes, which helps them avoid potential dangers caused by atmospheric expansion. However, satellites orbiting at lower altitudes are still at risk, raising concerns about SpaceX's ability to continue deploying spacecraft at this altitude. Lewis explained that as the sun becomes more active, it emits more extreme ultraviolet radiation, which is absorbed into our atmosphere. This will cause the atmosphere to expand significantly, leading to an expected increase in atmospheric density by one or two orders of magnitude. Many astronomers have criticized Starlink and other satellite constellations for potentially interfering with telescope research on Earth due to their reflection of sunlight. This incident is seen as representative of SpaceX's approach to issues in low-Earth orbit, where they address failures and improve in the future. This event serves as a lesson for SpaceX, according to Lewis. Lawler stated that the outcome is in their hands, and he expressed a hope that this situation will make them see reason.