On Sunday, March 29, SpaceX reported a loss of communication with Starlink satellite numbered 34343, which is believed to have exploded due to technical issues.
LeoLabs, a company specializing in space monitoring, identified signs of the satellite’s destruction. Despite this, SpaceX maintains that the situation is under control. The latest information indicates that the incident poses no threat to the International Space Station (ISS) or other spacecraft.
Previously, reports indicated that the Starlink constellation regularly loses 1-2 satellites each day, either burning up upon re-entry or falling back to Earth. Interestingly, Starlink recently launched in a country where using it previously could result in imprisonment.
Identifying problems with Starlink satellites is complicated by the high concentration of both satellites and space debris in low Earth orbit. At approximately 560 km above Earth, there are currently more than 24,000 objects. The number of Starlink satellites has reached 10,000 and is expected to continue growing.
According to SpaceX, the satellite was operating in low Earth orbit at an altitude of 560 km. Although SpaceX avoids using the term “explosion,” space monitoring experts have detected numerous fragments around the satellite’s last known position.
SpaceX is working in collaboration with NASA to track the movement of the satellite’s debris. It is expected that the remnants will burn up in the dense layers of Earth’s atmosphere within the coming weeks. The Space Situational Awareness (SSA) independent monitoring agency suggests that the satellite’s destruction likely resulted from an internal malfunction rather than a collision with space debris or another object.
Independent analysts note that this incident bears a resemblance to a similar event in December of last year, where another satellite suddenly lost contact and subsequently broke apart. Interestingly, just a week prior, Starlink narrowly avoided a collision with a Chinese spacecraft.
Additionally, SpaceX is currently preparing for its largest Initial Public Offering (IPO) to date, aiming to raise around $75 billion. The company’s current market capitalization is estimated at $1.75 trillion. SpaceX is keen to downplay the implications of the satellite incident to ensure the success of this significant investment round.
Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellite communication service has connected 16 million individuals, one-third of whom are from Ukraine.
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