Intelsat satellite breaks up in geosynchronous orbit
An Intelsat communications satellite launched in 2016 has broken up in its high geosynchronous orbit, scattering into as many as 57 pieces of debris.
“U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S) has confirmed the breakup of Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) in GEO on October 19, 2024, at approximately 0430 UTC,” states an alert posted on SpaceTrack, the U.S. Department of Defense’s space-tracking platform. “Currently tracking around 20 associated pieces – analysis ongoing. S4S has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain.”
Douglas Hendrix, CEO of ExoAnalytic Solutions, said the U.S.-based space-tracking company identified 57 pieces of debris Oct. 21 associated with the breakup. “We are warning operators of any spacecraft that we think are at risk of collision,” Hendrix said via email.
This satellite, which served Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, has had thruster issues since launch, suggesting the breakup might have been caused by similar issues.
At the moment is is unclear whether the debris will threaten other satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
The break-up once again highlights the profit potential for companies capable of removing such space junk. Communications companies like Intelsat as well as others in close orbits would certainly be willing to pay someone to clean things up, for many reasons.
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An Intelsat communications satellite launched in 2016 has broken up in its high geosynchronous orbit, scattering into as many as 57 pieces of debris.
“U.S. Space Forces-Space (S4S) has confirmed the breakup of Intelsat 33E (#41748, 2016-053B) in GEO on October 19, 2024, at approximately 0430 UTC,” states an alert posted on SpaceTrack, the U.S. Department of Defense’s space-tracking platform. “Currently tracking around 20 associated pieces – analysis ongoing. S4S has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain.”
Douglas Hendrix, CEO of ExoAnalytic Solutions, said the U.S.-based space-tracking company identified 57 pieces of debris Oct. 21 associated with the breakup. “We are warning operators of any spacecraft that we think are at risk of collision,” Hendrix said via email.
This satellite, which served Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, has had thruster issues since launch, suggesting the breakup might have been caused by similar issues.
At the moment is is unclear whether the debris will threaten other satellites in geosynchronous orbit.
The break-up once again highlights the profit potential for companies capable of removing such space junk. Communications companies like Intelsat as well as others in close orbits would certainly be willing to pay someone to clean things up, for many reasons.
The support of my readers through the years has given me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Four years ago, just before the 2020 election I wrote that Joe Biden's mental health was suspect. Only in this year has the propaganda mainstream media decided to recognize that basic fact.
Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Even today NASA and Congress refuse to recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are five ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation:
5. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
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Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above. And if you buy the books through the ebookit links, I get a larger cut and I get it sooner.
Several questions here:
If a set of bodies are assembled in space, moving at uniform speed and then “break-up”, what could cause the break-up? Why would they quickly separate?
Who would be responsible for the possible “clean-up” of these pieces? Boeing, Intelsat, what country? How is this “required” clean-up enforced? Who can sue and what standing would they have?
If clean-up is not enforceable then there is little assurance of possible profit
Chris wrote, “If clean-up is not enforceable then there is little assurance of possible profit.”
I don’t agree. The debris poses a risk to other satellites, now and in the future. It is in the interest of satellite companies to get it removed. With so many big constellations planned, it is going to become imperative for these companies to pay for their removal. Thus the profit motive.
Why do modern Americans always assume nothing can be accomplished without some government regulation? The assumption if anything has been proven false in the past half century, in numerous ways, resulting in less achievement and accomplishment.
That’s one way to deploy a megaconstellation…
In more disturbing news, I am hearing scuttlebutt about an alleged attempt to interfere with Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell on the part of Omnispace and… Lockheed Martin.
Here I thought they were the cleaner of the two big primes.
Question for anyone:
“breakup,” is that tech-speak for ‘exploded?’
Wayne asks: “breakup,” is that tech-speak for ‘exploded?’
While I don’t know the particulars of this event and what the wreckage is doing, there is a clear linguistic difference between the two terms. Breakup implies that parts separated, Explosion implies that parts separated at high velocity. In the case of a satellite like this, it’s entirely possible that a thruster, fuel tank or battery had a small explosion that was sufficient to break part of the satellite free. So while there might have been an explosion on or within the craft, to say that the craft itself exploded would be inaccurate.
Or of course it could just be what is all too common these days: why use words that are simple and descriptive when you can use anodyne third party passive verbiage that doesn’t actually inform.
David Eastman, I think your points are well taken. In addition, I wonder if there is another scenario besides partial and full explosion, and that is rotation-induced disintegration.
If a thruster failed “open”, the entire satellite could quickly assume a high spin rate. The structural strength of a satellite, especially between the main body and solar arrays or antennae need not be high, as these will typically only be fully extended in a weightless condition. Prior to deployment, the major subassemblies would be supported by launching cradle structures.
So I could see a non-explosive disintegration resulting from a thruster malfunction.
”I don’t agree. The debris poses a risk to other satellites, now and in the future. It is in the interest of satellite companies to get it removed.”
I agree with Bob. Intelsat has historically been a pretty good steward of geosynchronous orbit, likely because they have the largest commercial fleet in that orbit and thus the most to lose. They probably would pay a reasonable fee to remove the debris from this breakup if such a service were available, but we’re probably 5-10 years away from that being practical.
I wouldn’t be surprised, though, to see the U. S. government sending one of its GSSAP or Silent Barker craft over to check it out. They have both the capability and the largest fleet in GEO. We would probably never hear of it if that happened, but I’d expect the results would be shared with Boeing and maybe the other primes for U. S. government GEO sats.