Starlink faces challenges amid biggest geomagnetic storm in decades

Last Saturday (11), Starlink, SpaceX's satellite division, led by Elon Musk, issued a crucial warning: its service was suffering from significant degradation. The timing couldn't be worse, as Earth was facing the biggest geomagnetic storm in the last two decades, triggered by intense solar activity.

Impact of the storm on operations and the global network

With about 60% of the approximately 7,500 satellites in orbit around the Earth, Starlink has established itself as a dominant force in the field of satellite internet. However, the geomagnetic storm proved to be an unprecedented challenge for the company.

Elon Musk, in a previous communication, had recognized the challenges faced by Starlink satellites under the pressure of the geomagnetic storm. Despite this, the satellites managed to maintain a certain stability until then.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has warned that this storm is the most intense since October 2003 and will likely continue to affect navigation systems, power grids and satellite communications through the weekend, posing an additional challenge for Starlink and others. satellite operators.

The thousands of Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit use laser connections between each other to transmit data at speeds comparable to that of light, allowing the network to provide internet coverage globally. However, even with this advanced technology, the geomagnetic storm proved to be a severe test for the robustness of the Starlink network.

_{Solar storm (Photo: reproduction/Starlink/Twitter/Epocanegocio)}

Technological adaptation and resilience

Faced with the challenges presented by the geomagnetic storm, Starlink and other companies in the sector are being forced to demonstrate adaptation and resilience in the face of natural forces. This crisis highlights the importance of technological systems capable of facing extreme conditions and maintaining global connectivity even in adverse circumstances.

Featured photo: Musk warned on social media that Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure due to the solar storm.(Reproduction/reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes/investealcance)