The sun threatens Starlink, satellites could come across our heads

According to a study published in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Science By NASA scientists, the last five years correspond to a progressive rise in the sun to its peak of magnetic activity. A solar intensification which arrives precisely at the time when more and more starlink satellites fall from their orbit: an disturbing correlation.

Starlink satellites that wear out quickly

The sun follows cycles of about 11 years during which its magnetic poles are reversed. During the active phases, solar spots and eruptions appear on its surface and release enormous quantities of particles and energy which disrupt satellite communications.

The impact goes beyond simple interference. Coronal mass ejections warm the upper terrestrial atmosphere, which increases air resistance on satellites. It is then necessary to correct their trajectory to avoid the fall, which exhausts the fuel reserves more quickly.

The analysis of 583 Starlink satellites when they atmosphere atmospheric between 2020 and 2024 shows an acceleration of degradation because of intense solar activity. The data highlight an alarming progression of the phenomenon.

Starlink began the deployment of its constellation in 2019. The first year shows low atmospheric backgrounds with only 2 in 2020. Then the situation quickly worsened with 78 in 2021, 99 in 2022, then 88 in 2023. The year 2024 explodes all records with 316, which corresponds to the entire solar cycle 24.

Research therefore aims to improve the resistance of satellites and limit their atmospheric backgrounds too in advance. The stake goes beyond a simple economic loss since debris have dangers for populations.

An incident of 2024 proves this: a fragment of Starlink satellite crashed on a Canadian farm. Proof that these falls sometimes reach the soil, a threat that could increase with the multiplication of satellites and the increase in solar activity.

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