SpaceX loses contact with on of its Starlink satellites

SpaceX said one of its Starlink satellites experienced an anomaly in orbit on Wednesday, cutting off communications and creating debris.

The incident occurred at an altitude of about 418 kilometers, marking a rare kinetic accident for the satellite internet network.

Starlink said the satellite created a small number of debris pieces and lost contact shortly afterward. In a post on X, the company said the spacecraft was largely intact but tumbling in orbit.

Starlink said the satellite would reenter Earth’s atmosphere and fully break apart within weeks. The company said the satellite quickly dropped about four kilometers in altitude following the anomaly.

That rapid descent suggested an internal explosion may have occurred onboard, according to SpaceX.

The satellite was one of nearly 10,000 spacecraft currently operating in Starlink’s broadband constellation. SpaceX said it was working with the U.S. Space Force and NASA to monitor the debris field.

The company did not disclose the exact number of debris pieces created by the mishap. Space-tracking firm LeoLabs said it detected tens of likely debris fragments from the event. LeoLabs said additional fragments could be identified as analysis of the incident continues.

The firm said the sudden drop in altitude indicated the cause was likely an internal failure. LeoLabs added the event did not appear to be the result of a collision with another object.

The U.S. Space Force’s space-tracking unit did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Officials have said debris from orbital incidents can pose risks to other active satellites.

The Starlink satellite remained partially intact after shedding a relatively small debris field.

The scale of the event appeared smaller than previous orbital breakups, including an Intelsat satellite incident that produced more than 700 debris pieces.

The number of spacecraft in Earth’s orbit has risen sharply in recent years. Companies and governments are deploying large satellite constellations for internet, communications, and Earth imaging services.

Space policy officials and industry executives have called for clearer international coordination in orbit. They have urged improved traffic rules to manage satellite movements and deployments.

Last week, SpaceX Starlink engineering vice president Michael Nicolls said a Chinese spacecraft passed within 200 meters of a Starlink satellite.

Nicolls said no coordination with existing satellites was performed during that close approach. He said the lack of coordination between satellite operators remains a major risk in space.