A surge in solar storms is shaking up our night sky, causing Starlink internet satellites to drop out of orbit sooner than planned, and raising big questions about the future of space traffic.
Catch up on the key points in our 1-minute read:
Increased solar activity is making Earth’s atmosphere expand, dragging Starlink satellites down faster
The current solar cycle is more intense than previous ones, accelerating satellite reentries
Researchers found it’s now harder to predict when and where satellites will fall during solar storms
This poses new challenges for satellite operators and adds to concerns about space junk
The study highlights an unprecedented era of both satellite launches and solar activity
