Boeing’s Intelsat 33e satellite unexpectedly disintegrates in orbit, raising space debris concerns.
Boeing’s Intelsat 33e communications satellite unexpectedly broke apart in orbit over the weekend, adding to the growing concern over space debris.
The satellite, which had been providing broadband services to Europe, Africa, and Asia, stopped functioning on 19 October 2024 while orbiting the Indian Ocean.
Intelsat confirmed the total loss of the satellite two days later. The cause of the disintegration is still being investigated.
U.S. Space Force Confirms Satellite Breakup
The U.S. Space Force has verified that Intelsat 33e shattered into at least 20 pieces of space debris.
Fortunately, there is no immediate threat from these fragments, though experts are monitoring the situation.
Intelsat, alongside Boeing and government agencies, has initiated a thorough investigation into the malfunction.
A Failure Review Board has been established to analyze the breakdown.
Boeing’s EpicNG Platform Faces Scrutiny
Intelsat 33e, launched in 2016, was part of Boeing’s EpicNG platform, which was designed to offer next-generation communication capabilities.
This marks the second failure in the platform’s series after the earlier malfunction of Intelsat 29e, which faced possible damage from a micrometeoroid or solar storm.
These incidents have shortened the anticipated 15-year lifespan of the satellites, raising concerns about the platform’s long-term reliability.
Escalating Space Debris Problem
The disintegration of Intelsat 33e further contributes to the global issue of space debris.
Currently, over 30,000 large pieces of debris are tracked by space agencies, though many smaller pieces remain unmonitored.
Efforts to address this growing problem include proposals for nets, clawed robots, and tethers to remove dangerous debris from orbit.
