Sun's unpredictable outbursts are forcing satellites back to Earth sooner

The big picture: The space industry faces a pressing question: How can thousands of satellites safely coexist with the sun's volatile outbursts? The answer could shape not only the future of space commerce but also the safety of our skies – and even the farmlands below. A 2.5-kilogram chunk of metal found on a Canadian farm in August 2024 has become a symbol of a growing dilemma in space exploration. The fragment – identified as part of a SpaceX Starlink satellite – highlights an unintended consequence of the satellite boom: the sun's unpredictable behavior is pulling spacecraft back to Earth faster than anticipated, occasionally leaving debris behind. As the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, known as solar maximum, its eruptions trigger geomagnetic storms that ripple through Earth's atmosphere. These storms heat and expand the upper atmosphere, increasing drag on satellites and shortening their orbital lifespans. Denny Oliveira of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Ce ... Read full article.