Solar Storms Are Pulling Satellites Out of Orbit Faster Than Expected

New research shows that when solar activity intensifies, emissions from the Sun heat and expand Earth’s atmosphere, increasing drag on objects in orbit.This accelerates the fall of space debris and satellites, especially beyond a critical activity threshold. The findings reshape how operators plan fuel, avoid collisions, and manage long-term traffic in low Earth orbit.Thank you for listening to Bedtime Astronomy — your guide to the cosmos. New episodes on space exploration, NASA missions & the latest astronomy breakthroughs.This episode includes AI-generated content.