Space weather behind unprecedented loss of 38 Starlink satellites: study | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Space weather behind unprecedented loss of 38 Starlink satellites: study

Posted 16 Apr 2024

2 min read

  • Study by IISER Kolkata, found following factors for loss of satellites.
    • Space weather conditions, 
    • Satellites in high-density low Earth orbit
    • Enhanced drag due to orientation changes of satellites.

 

  • Space Weather
    • Space weather is environment around Earth, other planets, and celestial objects in our galaxy which is largely controlled by Sun’s activities.
    • It is influenced by solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and other particles and emissions emanating from Sun.
      • Solar flares are sudden and intense explosions of energy on surface of Sun, often associated with sunspots. These are caused by release of magnetic energy stored in Sun’s atmosphere.
      • CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from Sun’s corona.

 

  • Impact of Space Weather on Earth 
    • Radio blackout storm: Electromagnetic energy released in flares disrupts radio signals in earth’s upper atmosphere impacting Navigation system.
    • Geomagnetic storms (major disturbances in earth’s magnetic field) affect power grids, pipelines, and railways, and cause auroras.
    • Solar radiation storm: Fast-moving charged particles from sun can permeate magnetosphere and endanger astronauts and spacecraft/satellites/aircraft.

 

Starlink

  • It is a constellation of satellites in LEO (Created by SpaceX, American space start-up) providing global internet coverage, particularly for remote regions.
  • It plans to have as many as 42,000 satellites at altitude of about 550 km.
  • It offers reduced latency and increased bandwidth due to satellite's proximity to Earth.
  • Tags :
  • Space weather impacts on Earth
  • Space Weather
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