--- title: "Dramatic Video Shows SpaceX Starlink Satellites Burning Up in the Sky" description: "A geomagnetic storm earlier this month caused 40 of SpaceX's broadband-beaming Starlink satellites to fall out of orbit shortly after launch." date: "2022-02-10" modified: "2022-02-10" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/video-spacex-starlink-burning-up" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "satellites" - "SpaceX" - "starlink" - "the digest" --- # Dramatic Video Shows SpaceX Starlink Satellites Burning Up in the Sky ![A geomagnetic storm earlier this month caused 40 of SpaceX's broadband-beaming Starlink satellites to fall out of orbit shortly after launch.]() *\Image: kevinizooropa via YouTube\* ## C-Beams Glitter A [geomagnetic storm]() last week caused 40 of SpaceX's broadband-beaming Starlink satellites to fall out of orbit shortly after being deployed from one of the company's Falcon 9 rockets. Some of them dipped low enough to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere, putting on a dramatic spectacle, as seen in a [three-minute video]() uploaded to YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KUSN89-A0 ## Crashing Down The satellites were caught by the geomagnetic storm before they had a chance to slowly increase their altitude to reach their final orbit. "SpaceX deploys its satellites into these lower orbits so that in the very rare case any satellite does not pass initial system checkouts it will quickly be deorbited by atmospheric drag," reads a [SpaceX update](). Fortunately, the hundreds of pounds of satellites "pose zero collision risk with other satellites," according to the company. Since they're burning up entirely in orbit, "no orbital debris is created and no satellite parts hit the ground." SpaceX has managed to successfully launch more than 1,800 Starlink satellites so far. The doomed launch earlier this month was the company's third this year alone. It technically has permission to launch tens of thousands more, potentially cluttering the night sky and making astronomical observations significantly [more difficult](). Given the pace at which SpaceX is launching the satellites, the storm isn't a huge setback for the company. In fact, its next Starlink launch is already scheduled for [later this month](). **READ MORE:** [Fiery death of SpaceX Starlink satellites captured on video after geomagnetic storm]() \[*Space.com*\] **More on Starlink:** *[Geomagnetic Storm Kills 40 of SpaceX's Starlink Satellites]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()