The Sun begins kil.ing off Elon Musk’s Starlink

Scientists are warning that the sun’s current solar maximum is shortening the lifespan of satellites, especially Elon Musk’s Starlink network. As the sun reaches the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, increased solar flares and geomagnetic storms are disrupting Earth’s atmosphere. These storms cause the atmosphere to expand, increasing drag on satellites and accelerating their re-entry. NASA researcher Denny Oliveira explained that satellites are re-entering faster than usual—up to 10 days sooner during this active solar phase. This marks the first time such effects are being observed in what experts call the “mega constellation era.”

The surge in satellite re-entries could push companies like SpaceX to remove defunct satellites more quickly to prevent collisions in orbit. While increased re-entry may reduce orbital debris, it also raises the risk of satellite parts surviving the descent. In one rare case, a 5-pound fragment of a Starlink satellite was found on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, after surviving re-entry. Samantha Lawler of the University of Regina noted the region is ideal for spotting debris and questioned how many more pieces may have gone undetected. The ongoing solar maximum may continue to impact satellite operations and safety in space and on Earth.