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nitpicker

(7,153 posts)
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:00 PM Feb 2022

SpaceX loses 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm a day after launch

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60317806

SpaceX loses 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm a day after launch

Published3 hours ago

SpaceX has lost dozens of satellites after they were hit by a geomagnetic storm a day after launch, causing them to fall from orbit and burn up.
(snip)

The company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, said up to 40 of 49 satellites from last week's launch were hit.
(snip)

"Onboard GPS suggests the escalation speed and severity of the storm caused atmospheric drag to increase up to 50% higher than during previous launches," SpaceX said.

SpaceX tried to put the satellites into a "safe mode", turning them to fly edge-on to minimise drag.

The drag was strong enough to stop the satellites ever getting out of that "safe mode" and back into the orbit they needed to reach to be stable. Instead, "up to 40" will fall back into the Earth's atmosphere and burn up.
(snip)
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SpaceX loses 40 satellites to geomagnetic storm a day after launch (Original Post) nitpicker Feb 2022 OP
hmmm--ok if you say so Elon. librechik Feb 2022 #1
Wow. lagomorph777 Feb 2022 #2
The aurora images have been spectacular this year! CrispyQ Feb 2022 #6
Replace "telegraph systems" with "power grids and internet" lagomorph777 Feb 2022 #7
The human race would be set back by at least 30 years. roamer65 Feb 2022 #11
I think you're way too optimistic. lagomorph777 Feb 2022 #12
We wouldn't fall back that far. roamer65 Feb 2022 #14
Wow. Sorry to hear it. Sounds like they need significantly more Hortensis Feb 2022 #3
It's a tricky balance. They are intended to eventually fall from orbit and burn up. lagomorph777 Feb 2022 #5
Thanks, Lagomorph. A nice little boost toward understanding Hortensis Feb 2022 #10
Hahaha cuz fuck that guy. Nevilledog Feb 2022 #4
80% loss rate from that launch Amishman Feb 2022 #8
awww jcgoldie Feb 2022 #9
Nobody bothered to check the weather? crickets Feb 2022 #13
Ummm...looks like it, Cricket - this geomagnetic storm was predicted by NOAA for Feb 2-3 Backseat Driver Feb 2022 #15
Here's that scene in Don't Look Up tenderfoot Feb 2022 #16

librechik

(30,663 posts)
1. hmmm--ok if you say so Elon.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:03 PM
Feb 2022

how else would we know? and good thing we won't lose Dubuque, right?


Good Lord!

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
2. Wow.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:04 PM
Feb 2022

Space weather is to be taken seriously. Both the Sun and the Earth itself can be quite temperamental. The Earth's magnetic field has been quite turbulent lately. We haven't seen one of the Sun's really big storms hit the Earth yet, during this technological age. If the 1859 Carrington Event were to happen today, we'd be in very serious trouble.

CrispyQ

(36,231 posts)
6. The aurora images have been spectacular this year!
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:12 PM
Feb 2022

I'd never heard of the Carrington Event. Thanks!


The Carrington Event was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, occurring on 1–2 September 1859 during solar cycle 10. It created strong auroral displays that were reported globally and caused sparking and fire in multiple telegraph systems. Wikipedia

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
7. Replace "telegraph systems" with "power grids and internet"
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:14 PM
Feb 2022

And "blown out telegraph clickers" with "blown out power plants" and you begin to get an idea...

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
11. The human race would be set back by at least 30 years.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 01:01 PM
Feb 2022

We just missed a major Carrington in July, 2012 by a few days.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
14. We wouldn't fall back that far.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 01:53 PM
Feb 2022

There are still a few vehicles around that don’t have electronics.

Old classic cars, for instance. Those would go for a higher premium than they do now.

Employment would go up as we went back to manual accounting and manual logistical systems from the pre-information age.

My guess is would we be back to early 1960’s standards. Deaths would escalate as health care fell back a few decades.

The Federal Reserve has a ton of emergency cash for such a scenario.

The fun part would be watching how the electronic devices zombies handle being unplugged from the collective all of a sudden.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
3. Wow. Sorry to hear it. Sounds like they need significantly more
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:09 PM
Feb 2022

safety margin, assuming this wasn't a "500-year" geomagnetic storm. And better forecasting.

Pioneers.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
5. It's a tricky balance. They are intended to eventually fall from orbit and burn up.
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:12 PM
Feb 2022

That's a very early gesture toward responsible handling of space junk, and also makes it convenient to plan for upgrades of the constellation.

But if they de-orbit too soon, money is burned.

Amishman

(5,541 posts)
8. 80% loss rate from that launch
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 12:16 PM
Feb 2022

They've been doing 50-60 sats per launch. I believe when the bigger rocket is ready, it will be several hundred going up at a time.

Backseat Driver

(4,339 posts)
15. Ummm...looks like it, Cricket - this geomagnetic storm was predicted by NOAA for Feb 2-3
Wed Feb 9, 2022, 02:07 PM
Feb 2022

and the possible space weather effects are known re electronic communication devices. (Science).

Also, the planet Mercury, as portrayed by the Archangel Gabriel who is the messenger in charge of communications, was still in retrograde on launch day, making 2/3/2022 an astrologically inauspicious launch day (pseudo-science). LOL! Just covering all the nutty bases...

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/geomagnetic-storms - article mentions this "drag" then scroll to menus at bottom to explore current forecast choices and likely space weather effects, scroll down more for previous alerts and effects...Happy exploring!

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