Brief by Shorts91 NewsDesk / 04:10pm on 08 Jun 2025,Sunday Science
Solar activity at the peak of the Sun’s 11‑year cycle has intensified geomagnetic storms, drastically increasing upper-atmosphere density. A NASA Goddard study focused on 523 Starlink satellites re-entering Earth from 2020 to 2024. It found that solar eruptions cause enhanced atmospheric drag, accelerating orbital decay and early re‑entry. Authors noted that the current Solar Cycle 25 is more active than predictions, leading to “significant impacts on Starlink reentries.” Researchers emphasized the unprecedented overlap of intense solar activity and a booming low-Earth orbit satellite population—marking a pivotal moment in orbital drag research. (PC: NDTV)
