Plasmasphere

Meteorology

Atmospheric sciences

Astronomy

Magnetosphere

Quantum mechanics

Environmental science

Magnetic field

Satellite

Earth's magnetic field

Space weather

Geomagnetic storm

Storm

Geostationary orbit

Space environment

Geophysics

Ionosphere

Physics

Space Weather

On 3 February 2022, SpaceX Starlink launched and subsequently lost 38 of 49 satellites due to enhanced neutral density associated with a geomagnetic storm. This study examines the space weather conditions related to the satellite loss, based on observations, forecasts, and numerical simulations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Working closely with the Starlink team, the thermospheric densities along the satellite orbits were estimated and the neutral density increase leading to the satellite loss was investigated. Simulation results suggest that during the geomagnetic storm, pre‐launch Monte Carlo analyses performed by the Starlink team using empirical neutral density inputs from NRLMSISE‐00 tended to underestimate the impact relative to predictions from the operational coupled Whole Atmosphere Model and Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics physics‐based model. The numerical simulation indicated this minor to moderate geomagnetic storm was suf...

Space Weather Environment During the SpaceX Starlink Satellite Loss in February 2022