A SpaceX Starlink satellite is rapidly descending from orbit after experiencing an unspecified malfunction on Wednesday, December 17th. The satellite, operating at an altitude of 418 kilometers (260 miles), lost communication with ground control and has begun a controlled, but accelerated, deorbit.
What Happened?
According to SpaceX, the anomaly resulted in the venting of a propulsion tank, causing a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) decrease in its orbital height. A small number of trackable debris fragments were also released, though SpaceX asserts these pose no immediate threat. The company is collaborating with NASA and the U.S. Space Force to monitor the debris.
The satellite is expected to fully burn up in Earth’s atmosphere within weeks, with its current trajectory ensuring it will pass safely below the International Space Station.
Why This Matters: The Scale of Starlink and Space Debris
This incident highlights the inherent risks of operating massive satellite constellations like Starlink. SpaceX currently dominates low Earth orbit with nearly 9,300 active satellites – roughly two-thirds of all operational spacecraft. The sheer volume means failures, though rare, are statistically inevitable.
The company launched over 3,000 new satellites this year alone, and while SpaceX proactively deorbits satellites at the end of their five-year lifespan, unexpected failures like this can still occur.
Proactive Collision Avoidance
SpaceX emphasizes its commitment to space safety, citing the 145,000 automated collision-avoidance maneuvers performed by its satellites in the first half of 2024 alone. This equates to roughly four evasive actions per satellite each month, demonstrating a significant effort to prevent orbital collisions.
However, recent incidents – such as a near-miss with a Chinese satellite that failed to provide adequate warning – underscore the need for greater global coordination in space traffic management.
The Starlink incident serves as a reminder that even with advanced technology and responsible operators, the increasing density of objects in orbit poses an ongoing challenge to long-term space sustainability.
The satellite’s demise is a natural part of operating in this environment, and SpaceX is working to understand the root cause of the failure to prevent future occurrences.
