Never before have so many satellites orbited Earth, largely due to the rapid expansion of mega constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink internet network. While these satellites have revolutionized global internet connectivity, new findings show that solar activity is quietly undermining their longevity.
The sun operates on an 11-year cycle of activity, peaking at a phase known as the solar maximum. The most recent maximum occurred in late 2024, unleashing a wave of heightened solar eruptions. These eruptions, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections, can generate geomagnetic storms that significantly impact Earth’s upper atmosphere.
One major effect of these storms is atmospheric heating, which causes Earth’s outer layers to expand outward. This expansion increases atmospheric drag on low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites—such as the thousands deployed by Starlink. The increased resistance slows the satellites and gradually pulls them closer to Earth, ultimately shortening their operational lifespan.
For Starlink and other large constellations, this creates a two-sided dilemma. On one hand, the natural deorbiting process can help reduce space debris, as defunct satellites burn up in the atmosphere more quickly. On the other hand, it poses a challenge to maintaining consistent satellite coverage, as operators must launch replacements more frequently to sustain their networks.
SpaceX has already witnessed the effects. In early 2022, a solar storm destroyed 40 Starlink satellites shortly after launch. With solar activity continuing near its peak, similar disruptions are likely to persist.
As we become increasingly reliant on satellite networks for communication, navigation, and surveillance, understanding the sun’s influence on orbital infrastructure becomes critical. While solar activity brings some unintentional cleanup benefits to Earth’s crowded orbit, it also threatens the reliability and sustainability of systems like Starlink that so many now depend on.
