JavaScript is disabled
Our website requires JavaScript to function properly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser settings before proceeding.
Messages
8,214
Reactions
17,886
"Unfortunately, the satellites deployed on Thursday were significantly impacted by a geomagnetic storm on Friday. These storms cause the atmosphere to warm and atmospheric density at our low deployment altitudes to increase.

In fact, onboard GPS suggests the escalation speed and severity of the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase up to 50 percent higher than during previous launches. The Starlink team commanded the satellites into a safe-mode where they would fly edge-on (like a sheet of paper) to minimize drag—to effectively "take cover from the storm"—and continued to work closely with the Space Force's 18th Space Control Squadron and LeoLabs to provide updates on the satellites based on ground radars.

Preliminary analysis show the increased drag at the low altitudes prevented the satellites from leaving safe-mode to begin orbit raising maneuvers, and
up to 40 of the satellites will reenter or already have reentered the Earth's atmosphere," the blog post said.

 
@Certaindeaf I think 40K are planned, but the current count is much lower.

Estimate of 2,000 now?


1644439868656.png
 
Count is currently 2,000 satellites up. BTW Longwalkhome, they are not worried about EMP and this event was that the magnetic storm changed the atmosphere which became dense and would have used up too much fuel to get up to high earth orbit.

They believe that they are EMP proof. The plan is when they see a significant CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) solar storm heading in, they plan on powering the satellites down until it pass's by and expect that they'll all be fine.
 
Last Edited:

Upcoming Events

Tillamook Gun & Knife Show
Tillamook, OR
"The Original" Kalispell Gun Show
Kalispell, MT
Teen Rifle 1 Class
Springfield, OR
Kids Firearm Safety 2 Class
Springfield, OR

New Resource Reviews

New Classified Ads

Back Top