SpaceX
Last Thursday, SpaceX launched 49 new Starlink communications satellites and normally reached a low-earth orbit regarding 210 kilometers high, waiting to move to a working orbit regarding 550 kilometers high. The reason why SpaceX is doing this is to first check the functions of individual satellites in low orbits. If there are invalid or poorly communicated satellites, they can slow down and fall back to Earth in a short period of time by atmospheric resistance. It will not stay in space for a long time and become space junk.
But unfortunately, these 49 satellites are still in a 210-kilometer orbit waiting to be tested.，I encountered an electromagnetic storm last Friday, This warms the atmosphere near the orbit where the satellite is located, and increases the resistance to the satellite. According to the observed data, the increase in resistance has reached more than 50% of the satellites launched in the past. Starlink’s control center ordered the satellite to enter “safe mode” and turned the thinnest side of the satellite forward in order to reduce the resistance, but due to the long duration of the electromagnetic storm, 40 of the 49 satellites have determined that they do not have enough fuel to reach the scheduled orbit and will return to the atmosphere in the near future.
However, SpaceX emphasized that the Starlink satellite is designed to burn completely in the atmosphere, without generating space junk, and there is no danger of parts falling to the surface. Therefore, the only thing that was hurt in the whole incident was my wallet.
