Scientists have revealed that satellites measuring the magnetic field around the Earth are moving very fast towards the atmosphere.
In late 2021, scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) noticed something alarming. They found that satellites measuring the magnetic field around the Earth were moving too fast into the atmosphere.
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Solar storm drags satellites towards Earth
The satellites are moving towards the atmosphere at a speed 10 times faster than before, coinciding with the start of the new solar cycle. Experts believe this could be the beginning of some difficult years for our planet and the spacecraft orbiting it.
ESA’s Swarm mission manager Anja Stromme told Space.com:
“In the last five or six years, satellites were sinking about two and a half kilometers a year. But since December last year they have been almost diving. The rate of decline between December and April is 20 kilometers per year.
Satellites orbiting the Earth slow down over time and eventually fall to our planet. Most satellites burn up in the process of entering the atmosphere. In order to prevent this situation, experts perform various maneuvers to maintain the position of the satellites.
This gravitational effect actually prevents space debris in orbit. However, it seems quite dangerous for satellites to be pulled to Earth so quickly. It is a matter of curiosity how experts will deal with this issue.
Scientists explained that this effect depends on solar activity. Depending on the 11-year solar cycle, the amount of solar wind emitted by the sun increases with the rate at which satellites are pushed to Earth. After the last cycle ended in December 2019, the solar winds were quite calm.
But since last fall, more and more solar winds have been appearing. This is creating sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The Earth’s upper atmosphere is already feeling these effects.
While ESA’s satellites are already affected, SpaceX lost 40 Starlink satellites in February due to solar winds. The lower the orbital altitude of satellites, the more likely they are to be affected. And some satellites cannot avoid falling to earth.
This has a negative impact on the lifespan of satellites. There is also concern that some satellites entering the atmosphere may pose a danger on Earth. The fact that the satellite garbage around the world will decrease can be shown as a positive side of this situation.
So what do you think about the danger posed by satellites and other vehicles in the atmosphere? You can share your views with us in the comments section.
