Boeing’s Intelsat 33e satellite, a major communications satellite, has experienced a mysterious breakdown in orbit, resulting in the dispersion of at least 20 fragments of space debris throughout Earth’s atmosphere and impacting users worldwide. The satellite, responsible for providing broadband communication services to Europe, Africa, and Asia from a geostationary orbit above the Indian Ocean, ceased operations on Saturday (Oct. 19) due to an “anomaly” before being officially declared a “total loss” on Monday (Oct. 21) by Intelsat, the satellite service provider overseeing its operations.
Following further investigations by the U.S. Space Force, it was confirmed that the satellite had fragmented into a minimum of 20 pieces, although no immediate threats were identified from the resulting debris. The exact cause of the sudden disintegration remains unknown, prompting collaborative efforts between Intelsat, satellite manufacturer Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations. A Failure Review Board has been established to conduct a thorough analysis of the anomaly’s root cause.
The Intelsat 33e satellite, weighing 14,600 pounds (6,600 kilograms) and approximately the size of a limousine, was created and assembled by Boeing before its launch into orbit in 2016. It served as the second satellite deployed as part of Boeing’s “next generation” EpicNG platform, following the unsuccessful mission of the first satellite, IS-29e, which encountered issues after several years in space, possibly due to a fuel leak caused by a micrometeoroid strike or a solar storm. These setbacks significantly decreased the satellites’ anticipated lifespan, previously projected at 15 years.
The destruction of the satellite poses additional challenges for Boeing, already grappling with various problems such as the repercussions of the Starliner mission that left two NASA astronauts stranded in space, a fraud accusation related to the 737 Max plane crashes, and a strike involving 300,000 employees at its aircraft manufacturing facility. Furthermore, the incident contributes to the escalating issue of space debris congesting Earth’s orbit. While space agencies worldwide monitor over 30,000 of the largest debris pieces, numerous smaller fragments evade detection.
Scientists have proposed several strategies to address the mounting space junk dilemma, including the use of nets to capture debris, robotic mechanisms equipped with claws for collection purposes, or deploying a half-mile-long tether from another spacecraft to ensnare larger fragments. These innovative solutions aim to mitigate the risks associated with space debris and safeguard the integrity of Earth’s orbital environment.
