Elon Musk recently tweeted that Starlink is experiencing service disruptions because of the largest geomagnetic storm observed in two decades. The storm has put a lot of pressure on Starlink’s satellite operations, though they are currently holding up.
Starlink, which manages about 60% of the roughly 7,500 satellites in Earth’s orbit, plays a crucial role in global satellite internet services, as noted in a Reuters report. The current disruptions highlight the vulnerability of satellite-based infrastructure to solar phenomena.
In response to the intense solar activity, which includes multiple earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and an extensive number of sunspots, the U.S. government has issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for the first time in nearly twenty years. These solar events are known to trigger geomagnetic storms that can severely impact satellite functionality, affecting communications, navigation systems, and even power grids.
Coronal mass ejections, massive bursts of solar wind and magnetic fields emanating from the sun’s corona, have been particularly strong, leading to current adverse conditions. The U.S. government’s alert advises utilities and satellite operators like Starlink to prepare for ongoing disruptions and to implement measures to mitigate the effects of sudden geomagnetic fluctuations.
A degraded service in Starlink means the network may not operate at optimal levels, potentially resulting in slower internet speeds, higher latency, and intermittent connectivity issues for users worldwide.