Latest news with #lowEarthOrbit
The Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
The Sun is causing Elon Musk's Starlink satellites to drop from space
Eruptions from the Sun are causing SpaceX 's Starlink satellites to fall to Earth 'faster than expected', according to Nasa scientists. A team from the US space agency's Goddard Space Flight Center made the discovery after investigating the impact of solar activity on the lifespan of satellites in low-Earth orbit. Their findings revealed that Elon Musk 's space internet constellation is particularly prone to the effects of geomagnetic storms, which heat up the planet's atmosphere and increase the drag on satellites. The study coincides with the Sun reaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, known as the solar maximum, which has seen large amounts of geomagnetic storms and other extreme space weather. 'Our results indisputably show that satellites reenter faster with higher geomagnetic activity,' the researchers said. 'We clearly show that the intense solar activity of the current solar cycle has already had significant impacts on Starlink reentries.' SpaceX has previously blamed space weather for botched launch attempts of its Starlink satellites. In February 2022, most of the 49 Starlinks launched from a Falcon 9 rocket fell back to Earth over the Caribbean, with the event coinciding with a minor geomagnetic storm. There are currently more than 7,000 Starlink satellites orbiting Earth, with SpaceX planning to increase the constellation's size to up to 30,000 satellites. Each Starlink satellite has a limited lifespan, which is typically less than five years. After this period, the satellites re-enter the atmosphere and burn up before reaching the ground. While some of these satellites use onboard thrusters to deorbit, others fall naturally due to atmospheric drag. The Nasa scientists found that during geomagnetic storms, any satellite orbiting below 300 kilometres burnt up 10 days earlier than expected. These quicker re-entries could increase the chance of satellites not burning up properly in the Earth's atmosphere, the scientists said, and may be responsible for some parts of Starlink satellites reaching the ground. The only known instance of this happening took place in August 2024, when a piece of a Starlink satellite was discovered on a farm in Canada. The research was published in a study, titled 'Tracking reentries of Starlink satellites during the rising phase of Solar Cycle 25'.
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Satellite Mega Constellations Face Challenges from Solar Activity
The number of satellites orbiting Earth has reached unprecedented levels, with SpaceX's Starlink internet service leading the surge in mega constellations. Recent findings suggest that solar activity has a significant... This story originally appeared on Calendar The number of satellites orbiting Earth has reached unprecedented levels, with SpaceX's Starlink internet service leading the surge in mega constellations. Recent findings suggest that solar activity has a significant impact on these satellite networks, presenting new challenges for operators. Earth's orbit has become increasingly crowded as companies deploy large-scale satellite networks to provide global internet coverage and other services. SpaceX has launched thousands of Starlink satellites alone, contributing substantially to the growth of the orbital population. Solar Activity and Satellite Operations New research reveals that the sun's behavior directly affects satellite operations in ways that operators must now address. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other solar phenomena can disrupt satellite electronics, alter orbital paths, and even cause premature reentry into Earth's atmosphere. When the sun enters active phases of its 11-year cycle, it releases more radiation and particles that interact with Earth's upper atmosphere. This interaction heats and expands the atmosphere, creating increased drag on satellites in low Earth orbit, where many of these new mega constellations operate. The effects can be particularly pronounced for smaller satellites that make up mega constellations like Starlink, as they have less mass to resist atmospheric drag and may require more frequent orbital adjustments. Growing Concerns for Satellite Operators As the current solar cycle intensifies toward its predicted maximum, satellite operators face several critical challenges: Increased fuel consumption for orbit maintenance Higher risk of communication disruptions Greater potential for satellite failures More complex collision avoidance maneuvers SpaceX and other operators must now incorporate solar activity forecasts into their operational planning. This includes scheduling launches during periods of lower solar activity and designing satellites with additional shielding against radiation. Industry Response and Adaptation 'The relationship between solar cycles and satellite operations has always been known, but the scale of today's mega constellations makes this a much more significant issue,' explains Dr. Sarah Johnson, an aerospace engineer specializing in orbital dynamics. Satellite companies are responding by enhancing their monitoring systems and developing more sophisticated predictive models. Some are also modifying satellite designs to better withstand the harsh space environment during periods of high solar activity. The U.S. Space Force and NASA have intensified their space weather monitoring efforts to deliver more accurate forecasts to commercial operators. These agencies track solar events that may affect satellites and provide warnings when hazardous conditions are anticipated. International coordination has also improved, with satellite operators sharing data about orbital positions and planned maneuvers to reduce collision risks that might be heightened during solar events. The current situation represents a learning opportunity for the industry as it adapts to operating large satellite networks during varying solar conditions. The lessons learned will likely influence the design and operation of future satellite systems. The post Satellite Mega Constellations Face Challenges from Solar Activity appeared first on Calendar.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Chinese astronauts add debris shields to Tiangong space station during 8-hour spacewalk (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A pair of taikonauts have completed their first spacewalk aboard China's Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Two Shenzhou-20 crewmembers performed the mission's first extravehicular activity (EVA) on Thursday (May 22). The duo worked outside the Chinese low-Earth orbit laboratory for eight hours, wrapping up at 4:49 a.m. EDT (0849 GMT; 4:49 p.m. local time in Beijing). Chinese astronauts Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui served as the EVA's assigned spacewalkers, while their crewmate Wang Jie assisted from inside Tiangong with mission operators coordinating on Earth. Dong and Zhongrui exited the space station through the node cabin of the Tianhe module, marking the first time that airlock has been used for an EVA since Tiangong became operational. This was the 19th time taikonauts aboard Tiangong have conducted an EVA; many of these spacewalks have focused on installing debris shields to the station's exterior. With assistance from the station's robotic arm, Dong and Zhongrui successfully positioned a protective sheet on a designated exterior location on Tiangong. The pair also performed routine station maintenance and equipment inspections. RELATED STORIES: — 1,000 days in space! Core module of China's Tiangong space station hits milestone — China launches Shenzhou 20 astronauts to Tiangong space station (video) — Spacewalks: How they work and major milestones The Shenzhou-20 crew arrived at Tiangong on April 24, and are just about one month into their six-month-long mission. The trio replaced China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts, who returned to Earth on April 30. China has at least one more crewed mission planned for 2025. Shenzhou-21 is expected to launch sometime this fall. The Tiangong space station was completed in 2022 and has a continual occupancy planned for at least the next decade. The station presently consists of three main modules, but allows for China to launch more should they wish to expand the orbiting lab.
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Will satellite dogfights be the final frontier for the US-China space rivalry?
Tens of thousands of kilometres above the Earth's surface, Chinese satellites have been spotted moving in mysterious zigzag patterns. Space observers – including those at the Pentagon – are not sure what the unusual manoeuvres are meant to achieve, but they are reportedly happening at higher speeds and becoming more complex. They are also coming 'uncomfortably close' to US spacecraft. As a rising space power, China has made big advances in recent years with orbital inspection , repair and refuelling – all crucial to sustaining navigation, weather forecast, and broadband internet services. But there are concerns that the same space techniques – employed in what Beijing considers a 'war-fighting domain' – could be used to capture detailed images, closely inspect enemy satellites, intercept radio frequency signals, or even inflict damage on rival spacecraft. In the past decade, China has developed one of the world's most comprehensive space defence systems. It leads in direct ascent and co-orbital anti-satellite (ASAT) technologies in low Earth orbit, ahead of the No 1 space power, the United States, according to open-source data analysed by US-based research organisation Secure World Foundation (SWF) and published in April. So much so that China's strength in this area has prompted leaders of the American air and space forces to make rare public calls for 'space weapons' this year.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Kosmos 482: Soviet spacecraft will likely fall to Earth this week
Soviet-era spacecraft likely to crash back to Earth Just now Share Save Maddie Molloy Climate & Science reporter Share Save Getty Images The Soviet Union launched a number of missions to explore Venus – this probe was from an earlier flight Part of a Soviet-era spacecraft is expected to crash back to Earth this week after being stuck in orbit for more than half a century. Kosmos 482 was launched in 1972 as part of a mission to Venus but it never escaped low Earth orbit and separated into four pieces, according to Nasa. One of those pieces, believed to be the lander probe, is expected to re-enter our atmosphere around 10 May and at least part of it could survive the journey without burning up, according to Nasa. There is much we don't know about the re-entry, including where it might land, but even if any of it does survive, 70% of the planet is covered by sea so it is unlikely to cause significant damage. "It's much more likely that you win the lottery than that you get impacted by this piece of space debris." said Mr Stijn Lemmens, Senior Space Debris Mitigation Analyst at the European Space Agency. The lander capsule is a tough, spherical object about a metre wide and weighs nearly half a tonne. It was built to survive the extreme heat and pressure of Venus's atmosphere, meaning it has a robust heat shield and durable structure. This is why experts think it may survive an uncontrolled descent through Earth's atmosphere. The parachute system, originally intended to slow the lander's descent towards Venus, is likely long since degraded after more than 50 years in space. The risk to people on the ground is considered low, but the capsule's projected flight path could see it land anywhere between 51.7° north and south latitude, covering most of the inhabited world. This means it could potentially land anywhere from as far north as London to as far south as the southern tip of South America.
