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<\/a><\/p>\nStarlink, a satellite constellation operated by aerospace company SpaceX, lost 212 satellites in the period spanning July 18th and September 18th, data compiled by satellitemap.space shows.<\/p>\n
Data shows the number of burned-up satellites steadily increasing over the past three years, but a significant\u00a0spike<\/a>\u00a0can be observed starting the month of July.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear whether these satellites were scheduled to de-orbit or whether the burn-ups were a result of a failure.\u00a0Cybernews\u00a0has reached out to SpaceX for comment but has not received a response.<\/p>\n Some experts questioned the accuracy of numbers posted on the tracker website, saying they appeared to be unusually high. According to satellitemap.space, its data is based on public tracking information published on space-track.org and elsewhere<\/p>\n Starlink satellites are designed to burn up in the Earth\u2019s atmosphere at the end of their life cycle, which is approximately five years.<\/p>\n SpaceX started launching Starlink satellites in 2019. Over 5,000 have been sent into Earth\u2019s lower orbit since then. Of those, about 4,500 are believed to be active.<\/p>\n Satellites can also be vulnerable to electromagnetic storms, with strong\u00a0solar flares<\/a>\u00a0recorded this summer as the sun enters a period of heightened activity.<\/p>\n Destructive solar events have affected Starlink before. In February last year,\u00a0SpaceX<\/a>\u00a0said it lost 40 new satellites shortly after launch because of an electromagnetic storm. When accounting for the rocket launch, it potentially cost the company about $100 million in damages.<\/p>\n Reference: https:\/\/cybernews.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n