Elon Musk, CEO of EspaceXStarlink, the satellite internet arm of , has expressed concern about the impact of a powerful geomagnetic storm on Star link satellites. THE Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported that the storm reached the highest level, 5, on a 5-point scale earlier this month. This is the largest such event since October 2003, according to Fox News.
“A major geomagnetic solar storm is occurring now,” Musk said in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter.“Biggest in a long time. Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure, but are holding up so far,” he wrote.

What the Starlink website says
Previously, Starlink's website acknowledged “degraded service” without providing details. The company operates a network of approximately 6,000 satellites in low Earth orbit that connect to ground stations to provide high-speed Internet access. These satellites also use inter-satellite laser links to transmit data at the speed of light, enabling global coverage.
Starlink is a major player in satellite internet, owning about 60% of the approximately 7,500 satellites currently in orbit. Damage to these satellites could disrupt navigation and communications services worldwide.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has warned that a G5 geomagnetic storm could cause “widespread voltage control issues” and potentially lead to power grid blackouts. However, electricity infrastructure should not be directly affected.
What exactly is geomagnetic storm
A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by an exchange of energy from the solar wind. These storms are often triggered by powerful solar flares known as coronal mass ejections (CME), with at least seven observed since the start of the week according to Fox News.
The effects of the storm, including variations in the solar wind, can significantly alter currents, plasma and fields within the Earth's magnetosphere. NOAA expects the storm to persist through the weekend, potentially affecting navigation systems, power grids and satellite navigation.
While the last major geomagnetic storm caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa, the event also brought a spectacular light show. The intense solar flares resulted in colorful auroras visible as far south as the U.S. Gulf Coast, with reports of pink, green and purple skies in Florida, Texas and Alabama.