Starlink service affected by solar storm, Elon Musk announces supercharger expansion
text_fields
Amidst the largest geomagnetic storm since October 2003, Elon Musk's Starlink satellites experienced "degraded service," prompting concerns about the impact of the solar activity on the satellite network.
"Starlink is currently experiencing degraded service. Our team is investigating," stated the company on its website in response to the disruption caused by the geomagnetic storm.
Elon Musk, in a post on X, highlighted the severity of the storm, acknowledging its significant pressure on the Starlink satellite fleet, describing it as "the biggest in a long time."
"Major geomagnetic solar storm happening right now. Biggest in a long time. Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure, but holding up so far," Musk wrote.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed the occurrence of a major storm, indicating that it is the largest since October 2003. This ongoing storm poses potential risks to various systems, including navigation, power grids, and satellite communication.
Meanwhile, Musk also announced Tesla's investment of over $500 million in expanding its Supercharger network, aiming to create thousands of new chargers in 2024.
"Tesla will spend well over $500 million expanding our Supercharger network to create thousands of new chargers this year," Musk stated on X.
He clarified that this investment solely covers new site developments and expansions, excluding operational costs, which are significantly higher.
