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Last Updated:May 29, 2025, 08:48 IST
A NASA-led study found that solar storms can reduce satellite lifespans by up to 10 days, a significant change in orbital decay timelines.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida. (Image Credit: Reuters)
A dramatic spike in solar activity is accelerating the decline of satellites in low Earth orbit, with new research showing that SpaceX’s Starlink constellation is being hit especially hard. According to a New Scientist report, the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle—known as the solar maximum—peaked in late 2024, triggering intense geomagnetic storms that are pushing satellites back toward Earth much sooner than expected.
What NASA Study Said On Solar Storms?
A NASA-led study by scientist Denny Oliveira found that these solar storms can reduce satellite lifespans by up to 10 days, a significant change in orbital decay timelines.
“We found that when we have geomagnetic storms, satellites re-enter faster than expected [without solar activity]," Denny Oliveira said.
How Solar Storms Are Impacting Elon Musk’s Satellites?
The phenomenon is already having a visible effect on the ever-growing Starlink network, SpaceX’s ambitious plan to build a megaconstellation of over 30,000 satellites. With more than 7,000 already in orbit, the company has witnessed a growing number of unplanned satellite re-entries. Between 2020 and 2024, 523 Starlink units were tracked re-entering Earth’s atmosphere—often burning up completely as designed.
Denny Oliveira called the trend unprecedented, saying, “It’s the first time in history we have so many satellites re-entering at the same time. In a few years, we will have satellites re-entering every day."
One particularly striking example came when 37 Starlink satellites re-entered the atmosphere after just five days—far short of the usual 15+ day timeframe. These rapid re-entries were directly linked to geomagnetic disturbances caused by heightened solar activity.
What Experts Are Warning SpaceX Of?
As SpaceX and other companies push forward with plans to launch tens of thousands more satellites, experts say better forecasting of solar activity and more resilient satellite designs will be essential. The Sun’s unpredictable fury, once a distant concern, has now become a critical factor in the sustainability of the space economy.
Denny Oliveira said, “We’re entering a new era—one where solar weather can decide the fate of thousands of satellites in the sky."
Location :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Starlink Isn’t Basking In The Sun: New Study Claims Solar Storms Are Killing Elon Musk’s Satellites
