A mystery in space: The disappearance of Starlink satellites – rts.ch

Secret Satellites Starlink The missing one was uploaded by amateurs who follow direct The journey of these American devices. The real-time map allows you to monitor its routes.

Two main hypotheses have been put forward to explain their disappearance: a design flaw or the influence of solar storms. The latter can affect the electronic systems of satellites or cause them to slow down, dragging them towards Earth irreversibly. And without risks, according to specialists, because when they enter the atmosphere, these small devices burn and evaporate Completely.

However, there are still problems. Starlink satellites are located above the International Space Station. “This means that there are regularly malfunctioning satellites that spin out of control, crossing the orbits in which the International Space Station is located and around which the station must maneuver,” notes Luc Piguet, co-founder of ISS. Clear spaceWhich should be the first space junk recovery device.

Disposable satellites

In addition, the large number of Starlink satellites in orbit could pose problems. Before Starlink, large constellations had fewer than 100 satellites. Today, Elon Musk’s company has more than 4,000 devices in orbit. This overrepresentation of satellites may lead to effects that we are not yet able to measure.

Another surprise relates to the age of these satellites, which is only 5 years. “With technology developing so quickly, it is interesting to be able to replace a satellite in orbit after 5 to 7 years, when the technology is almost obsolete,” said Fabian Jordaens, founder of International.Astracast.

Internet of Things specialist Vod has around twenty satellites, the third largest European constellation. Its first device must burn up in the atmosphere at the end of its life within 5 months.

Pascal and Asmar