With over 7,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, scientists are examining how solar activity impacts their lifespans. Research shows that during solar storms, satellites can reenter Earth's atmosphere up to ten days sooner. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced as the Sun approaches the solar maximum phase of its 11-year cycle. Experts from NASA report that a high volume of Starlink satellites are reentering simultaneously, providing a historic opportunity for studying these effects. The interaction between increased solar activity and satellite reentry rates highlights the influence of solar dynamics on space technology.
"We found that when we have geomagnetic storms, satellites re-enter faster than expected [without solar activity]," NASA Goddard scientist Denny Oliveira, analyzing solar effects on satellites, stated.
"It's the first time in history we have so many satellites re-entering at the same time," Oliveira remarked, highlighting the unprecedented scale of satellite activity during the solar maximum.
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