Elon Musk's SpaceX recently lost up to 40 Starlink satellites due to a violent solar storm.

The satellites were forced to "take cover" from the storm by entering safe mode – which disables all non-essential activities – allowing them to be closer to the Earth's atmosphere.

However, the solar storm increased air drag, rendering the satellites incapable of switching off safe mode. They will now continue to approach Earth until they are destroyed upon re-entry.

The storm happened just one day after SpaceX launched 49 Starlink satellites as part of a network of satellites to provide internet connectivity to rural locations.

"Unfortunately, the satellites launched on Thursday were significantly impacted on Friday by a geomagnetic storm," SpaceX announced Tuesday on its website.

"GPS data indicates that the storm's escalation pace and severity increased atmospheric drag by up to 50% compared to earlier launches.

"Preliminary analysis indicates that the increased drag at low altitudes prevented the satellites from exiting safe mode and initiating orbit-raising maneuvers, and that up to 40 of the satellites will re-enter or have already re-entered the Earth's atmosphere."

Solar storms occur during the Sun's maximum activity when it spews hot plasma in the form of solar flares and winds.

These massive X-ray bursts can move at the speed of light towards Earth, generating electromagnetic radiation – dubbed a geomagnetic storm – which can destroy satellites and create power outages.