Key Points
- A SpaceX Starlink satellite experienced a rare in-orbit failure. The “anomaly” cut off communications and created a small amount of space debris.
- The satellite is now tumbling but is expected to burn up completely in the atmosphere within weeks.
- SpaceX is working with the U.S. Space Force and NASA to monitor the debris.
- The incident appears less severe than other recent satellite breakups.
One of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites has suffered a rare in-orbit failure, creating a small cloud of debris. The satellite internet company announced on Wednesday that the spacecraft experienced an “anomaly” that knocked it out of commission and cut off all communication.
The satellite, which was orbiting at an altitude of about 260 miles, is now tumbling out of control but remains “largely intact,” according to a post from Starlink on the social media platform.
The company said the satellite will naturally fall out of orbit and “fully demise” as it burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere within a few weeks.
Starlink did not say what caused the failure or how many debris fragments were created. The company did say it is working closely with the U.S. Space Force and NASA to track the debris, which could pose a risk to other satellites in orbit.
While any new space debris is a concern, this incident appears relatively minor compared to other recent in-orbit accidents. The breakup of an Intelsat satellite last year created over 700 pieces of trackable debris.
Still, for Starlink, which operates the world’s largest satellite constellation, any failure that creates debris is a significant event.
