U.S. private aerospace company SpaceX has lost about 40 of its 49 Starlink internet satellites launched into orbit on Feb. 3 as a result of a geomagnetic storm, the company said on its website.

"Preliminary analysis showed that increased resistance at low altitudes did not allow the satellites to leave the safe mode and start orbit correction, about 40 satellites will return or have already returned to the Earth's atmosphere," the company said in a statement.

The company noted that due to the storm, air resistance has become 50% stronger than during previous launches. The specialists decided to put the mini-satellites into safe mode, in which they moved sideways in orbit, in order to reduce resistance, but these measures did not help.

According to the company, the deorbited vehicles do not pose a threat to other satellites and are designed to burn up upon entry into the Earth's atmosphere.

Press Service