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Another Starlink Satellite Malfunctions, Creates Debris
31 Mar
Summary
- A SpaceX Starlink satellite experienced an anomaly on March 29, 2026.
- The malfunction caused a loss of communication and created significant debris.
- Debris is expected to deorbit within weeks due to low altitude.
On March 29, 2026, a SpaceX Starlink satellite designated Starlink-34343 experienced an anomaly that resulted in a loss of communication. This malfunction, occurring at an altitude of 560 kilometers, generated a significant amount of orbital debris. LeoLabs, a radar tracking company, detected "tens" of objects in the satellite's vicinity following the event. Both SpaceX and LeoLabs have indicated that the debris poses no immediate threat to the International Space Station or the Artemis 2 mission.
The company noted that due to the low orbit, the fragments are likely to deorbit and burn up within a few weeks. This incident bears resemblance to a December 17, 2025 event involving Starlink-35956, which also experienced an anomaly leading to a rapid decrease in altitude. While the cause of the recent anomaly is still under investigation, SpaceX stated that corrective actions will be implemented as needed.
Notably, SpaceX proceeded with a Falcon 9 launch carrying 29 Starlink satellites approximately six hours after acknowledging the March 29 incident, showing no immediate pause in operations.
