# Space Weather Effects on Satellites
## 3 Notable Satellite Failures
### The 'SpaceX' Storm: 2022-02-03  
The most recent example of destructive SW influence on technology is the loss of 38 out of 49 Starlink satellites during the so-called 'SpaceX' storm [50, 57]. The overall conditions were estimated as a modest SW event [50] and minor (G1) to moderate (G2) GS [58], according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center G-scale metric ([[https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation)]([https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation](https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation)), accessed on 17 August 2023). The general guidance issued indicated probable corrective actions to orientation and predicted a possible orbital drag. Based on the issued forecast and the empirical thermospheric neutral density model used, the launch proceeded as planned at 18:11 UT on 2022-02-03 with an initial orbit of 210 km perigee. The launch occurred on the recovery phase of G1 and a few hours before a subsequent G1 GS. Based on an alternative geomagnetic indices, the first storm reached Dst\(=-66\) nT (11 UT; the exact values of Dst in 2022 may be subject to change, [[https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/](https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/)]([https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/](https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/)), accessed on 17 August 2023) and Kp of 5+ on 2022-02-03 and followed by another GS with Dst\(=-61\) nT (21 UT) and Kp = 5+ on 2022-02-04, respectively. Despite the modest strength of the GSs, it was noted that the launch took place at the time when the thermosheric neutral density had reached its maximum increase [59]. This was the first time for a Starlink constellation to experience an enhanced level of atmospheric drag (reported by the operator as 50% higher than previous launches) that ultimately led to the loss of most spacecraft by 2022-02-07. The next scheduled launch by SpaceX used a 300 km initial orbit in order to minimize such risks [50]. The solar origin of the GSs as well as the IP conditions (solar wind, shock, ICME, \(B_{z}\), F10.7) are described in great detail in [59, 60, 61] and can be summarized as follows: a series of SFs (e.g., M1.1/2022-01-29/23:29 and C5/2022-01-30/01:29 from the same active region 12396 with location N17E11) and multiple CMEs occurred over a period of several days prior the launch. Among the CMEs, we note a halo one on 2022-01-29 that had a projected speed of 530 km s\({}^{-1}\) and a second one on 2022-02-01 that was faster than 1000 km s\({}^{-1}\), based on information from [[https://cdaw.gsfc.nasa.gov/CME_list/](https://cdaw.gsfc.nasa.gov/CME_list/)]([https://cdaw.gsfc.nasa.gov/CME_list/](https://cdaw.gsfc.nasa.gov/CME_list/)), accessed on 17 August 2023. [59] reported 637 and 791 km s\({}^{-1}\) from the CACTUS CME catalog, [[https://www.sidc.be/cactus/catalog.php](https://www.sidc.be/cactus/catalog.php)]([https://www.sidc.be/cactus/catalog.php](https://www.sidc.be/cactus/catalog.php)), accessed on 17 August 2023, whereas [61] estimated speeds from the Graduated Cylindrical Shell model to 777 and 420 km s\({}^{-1}\) for the CMEs on 2022-01-30 and 2022-01-31, respectively. These CMEs merged into the IP space and led to a complex ICME/shock signatures at Earth causing a double GS with a complex profile: (1) a two-step decrease can be noticed on 2022-02-03 with a minimum Dst index of \(-66\) nT at 11 UT and a second step of \(-48\) nT at 15-16 UT on the recovery phase and (2) an extended minimum over many hours over 2022-02-04 reaching \(-61\) nT at 21 UT. The detailed analysis of the IP data also reveals signatures of magnetic flux rope and long-lasting periods of fast solar wind and negative \(B_{z}\).