Elon Musk's SpaceX said most of the Starlink satellites it launched last week have burned up after being hit by a geomagnetic storm.
Solar storms result from the activity on the sun's surface, where plasma and magnetic fields make their way to Earth and can cause phenomena such as the Northern Lights as well as disrupting orbital electronics.
READ: Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites risk blocking out the stars, astronomers warn
SpaceX said around 40 of 49 satellites the launch were affected and have burned up and reentered the atmosphere or soon will do.
Its Starlink subsidiary is currently serving satellite internet to more than a dozen countries, with global coverage the aim, as the company markets the services as being "ideally suited" for remote areas where connectivity has been unreliable or unavailable.
And another one. #SpaceX successfully launched more Starlink sats to orbit this afternoon. B1061 flew its 6th flight and also landed on the droneship to be brought back for its next mission. #Falcon9
???? for @Teslarati pic.twitter.com/dKoqvBFPl6
— Richard Angle (@RDAnglePhoto) February 3, 2022
Full UK coverage is reported to be pending the approval of a license to build a ground station on the Isle of Man to add to bases in Cornwall and Buckinghamshire.
SpaceX said the launch on 3 February deposited the tiny 'microsats' just over 200km (130 miles) in orbit and "each satellite achieved controlled flight".