Colloquium: Dr. Denny M. Oliveira | UMBC | NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
In-Person PHYS 401
Location
Physics : 401
Date & Time
September 17, 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Description
TITLE: “Satellite orbital drag during magnetic storms: From Sputnik beepings to Starlink fireballs”
ABSTRACT: Since the dawn of the space age, satellites have faced a largely invisible but powerful challenge: Earth’s upper atmosphere. During geomagnetic storms, when the geomagnetic field is greatly disturbed enhancing ionospheric currents, the upper atmosphere heats and expands, increasing atmospheric drag and causing satellites to lose altitude faster than predicted. This presentation will explore the history and science of orbital drag, from the early days of putnik to the recent loss of dozens of Starlink satellites during a moderate magnetic storm. Drawing on recent advances in space weather research, we will examine how magnetic activity modifies the upper atmosphere, why these effects are difficult to predict, and what this means for the growing number of satellites in very low-Earth orbit. The talk will highlight both the scientific questions and the practical implications for satellite operations in an increasingly space-reliant world.
ABSTRACT: Since the dawn of the space age, satellites have faced a largely invisible but powerful challenge: Earth’s upper atmosphere. During geomagnetic storms, when the geomagnetic field is greatly disturbed enhancing ionospheric currents, the upper atmosphere heats and expands, increasing atmospheric drag and causing satellites to lose altitude faster than predicted. This presentation will explore the history and science of orbital drag, from the early days of putnik to the recent loss of dozens of Starlink satellites during a moderate magnetic storm. Drawing on recent advances in space weather research, we will examine how magnetic activity modifies the upper atmosphere, why these effects are difficult to predict, and what this means for the growing number of satellites in very low-Earth orbit. The talk will highlight both the scientific questions and the practical implications for satellite operations in an increasingly space-reliant world.
