United States: Boeing’s Intelsat 33e satellite has disintegrated in space, contributing to the growing problem of space debris. The satellite broke apart at an altitude of 35,000 kilometers in geostationary orbit.
According to the US Space Force, the satellite shattered into about 20 pieces, though the cause is still unknown. Launched in 2016, the satellite reached orbit in 2017. Experts estimate this event has added an additional 4,300 tons of debris to the current amount in space.
Specialists have long warned that space debris could become a major issue, potentially impacting Earth’s atmosphere and environment. The debris also presents significant challenges for future space missions. While much of it burns up upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, some fragments may reach Earth or fall into the oceans. There’s concern that some debris might contain hazardous materials used in satellite construction.
Predicting when this debris will re-enter Earth’s atmosphere is challenging. Calculating its speed and time of descent is difficult, and even the smallest fragments could damage operational satellites.
The US Space Force closely monitors this debris and notifies satellite operators if a collision risk is detected.
There are currently over 500,000 inactive objects orbiting Earth, commonly referred to as space debris or space junk. This debris comes from decades of space missions, including defunct satellites and rocket parts. Major space agencies like NASA and ISRO are actively working on solutions to address this growing issue.
NASA has been testing the use of lasers and satellites to remove space debris. Ground-based lasers can target debris, and NASA is exploring two laser methods: photon pressure and ablation, the latter involving more powerful lasers to mitigate the problem.