SpaceX Lost 40 of 49 Newest Starlink Satellites Due to Geomagnetic Storm
The newest Starlink satellites, launched into Earth orbit in February, could enter the atmosphere, SpaceX reports .
The company allowed the loss of 40 of the 49 spacecraft launched on February 3 from the launch pad of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida (USA) on a Falcon 9 rocket. The reason for the loss of satellites is called a geomagnetic storm that occurred on February 4.
According to the company, this natural phenomenon causes the atmosphere to heat up and increase its density at low altitudes. "Satellites coming out of orbit pose zero risk of collision with other satellites and, due to the peculiarities of their design, are destroyed upon re—entry into the atmosphere," SpaceX says.
In February, The Verge publication, with reference to the company's materials, announced the appearance of a new tariff plan for Starlink subscribers, promising a noticeable increase in speed. The new tariff plan is called Starlink Premium. It includes a larger and more productive terminal, as well as data transfer rates from 150 to 500 megabits per second.
In May 2020, the publication Popular Mechanics recalled that the spacecraft of the Starlink system of the American company SpaceX support the Blackjack project ("Black Jack") of the Office of Advanced Research Projects of the United States Department of Defense.
