Geomagnetic storm destroys Starlink satellites
Recently, dozens of Starlink satellites were destroyed by a geomagnetic storm just a day after they were launched (Geomagnetic storm destroys Starlink satellites).
The Starlink satellites have been launched by Space-X.
Starlink are satellites placed in low-earth orbit (altitude less than 1000 km) for broadband connectivity.
A geomagnetic storm is a powerful disturbance that occurs in the Earth’s magnetosphere. The phenomenon of geomagnetic storms occurs when there is a very effective exchange of energy in the space environment around the Earth due to the solar wind.
The magnetic field is the region of space around a planet that is controlled by the planet’s magnetic field.
These storms are generated by powerful bursts of radiation called solar flares. This solar flame is produced by a sudden burst of energy due to the reorganization of magnetic field lines near the solar sunspots.
The active solar magnetic cycle in the interior of the Sun creates regions that appear as dark spots on the surface. Those spots are called solar spots. They appear dark because they are less hot than other parts of the Sun’s surface.
Impact on Earth:
- These storms can affect the operation of space-based services such as GPS, radio and satellite communications.
- These can affect aircraft flights, power grids and space exploration programs.
- Astronauts doing spacewalks face health risks from exposure to solar radiation.
Source – The Hindu
