SpaceX says dozens of satellites destroyed in geomagnetic storm

Dozens of SpaceX's just launched Starlink low-orbit satellites crashed back towards Earth, following a massive geomagnetic storm which disrupted their placement. —Florida Today/AP/File

Elon Musk’s space venture SpaceX lost dozens of satellites to a storm, destroying the bulk of a recently launched fleet as they fell back toward Earth.

As many 40 of the 49 Starlink low-orbit satellites launched Feb 3 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida were hit by a geomagnetic storm the next day, SpaceX said on its website.