Powerful Solar Storm to Doom 40 New Starlink Satellites - Here's Why That's A Problem.

Powerful Solar Storm to Doom 40 New Starlink Satellites - Here's Why That's A Problem. Imagine you've invested $12 billion in a new satellite system and you're about to launch 40 more satellites into space. But one day before the launch, a solar storm hits and fries all of your satellites. This is exactly what happened with SpaceX's Starlink project this morning. A powerful solar storm caused them to lose contact with their satellites just hours before they were set to be launched. Now, these satellites are going nowhere unless someone can figure out how to turn them on from afar or find a way to get them back into space before the sun has another solar storm. It's unclear if SpaceX will be able to fix this problem, but it's a good reminder that we need to protect ourselves from solar storms too...read on for why! What is a solar storm? A solar storm is an ejection of plasma and magnetic field from the sun. Solar storms happen when the sun's magnetic fields flips or when it has more activity on its surface. Solar storms usually cause radio interference, disrupt power grids, disrupt communications, and can even change Earth's orbit. Solar storms are not always dangerous - they only become a problem if they are powerful enough to reach Earth. This can happen if the sun releases a coronal mass ejection (CME) - which shoots out billions of tons of electrified gas at more than 2 million miles per hour. If this CME hits Earth, it can create a geomagnetic storm that could affect power systems on our planet. The last time there was a geomagnetic storm was in 1859 when it caused telegraph lines to fail across North America. It also caused Northern Lights so bright that they were visible in the daytime sky for some people! Fortunately, these types of storms are rare...about one every 100 years! But this event today with SpaceX's Starlink satellites is just another reminder that we need to be prepared for this type of thing too! Why is a solar storm dangerous? A solar storm is a burst of energy from the sun that can disrupt satellites and power grids. It's also known as a geomagnetic storm. While we've had solar storms in the past, we've never seen one like this before. The reason for that is that we're experiencing an incredibly high number of solar storms right now due to our changing climate. Solar storms can interfere with satellites and other electronics on Earth and cause power outages. This can be disastrous for those living in rural communities, who may not have access to electricity or communication services. The good news is that scientists are working to find ways to protect ourselves from these types of disruptions. They hope to build satellites designed specifically to withstand the effects of a solar storm so they won't need to be replaced after just one day! Solar storms throughout history Solar storms are not new to our planet. Throughout history, there have been reports of powerful solar storms that have fried satellites, interfered with radio communications, and in some cases, disrupted power grids. One in 1859 was so strong that it caused telegraph systems to spark across Europe and North America. And one in 1859 caused telegraph systems to spark across Europe and North America. Even today, solar storms can still disrupt satellite signals and power grids. This is why NASA has created the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) to monitor space weather conditions from a central location. They’re able to provide alerts about impending solar activity that could disrupt our technology, as well as educate people about how they can prepare for these events. How to protect yourself from a solar storm. In the event of a solar storm, it's important to take precautions. Right now, we don't have a way to protect ourselves from a solar storm that affects satellites in space. And while SpaceX is trying to find a solution for this problem with their Starlink project, it's unclear how successful they'll be. This means that while we can't control when a solar storm will happen, we can prepare for such an event and minimize the damage it could cause. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself: - Keep an emergency kit in your house. If you know there's going to be a power outage or if there's been an emergency warning, you'll need to be prepared with enough food and water for yourself and your family. - Keep your cell phone charged and keep back ups on hand. Your phone will likely be your only way of communicating with the outside world during a power outage or emergency situation so it's important that it stays charged at all times! - Stay inside during the day when the sun is most intense (about 10am - 2pm). This is when the strongest radiation from the sun hits earth and if you're out in public when this happens, you could get burned without even realizing what happened!