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SpaceX Starlink Satellite's Unexplained Descent Sparks Concern
20 Dec
Summary
- A Starlink satellite lost contact and is falling due to an unknown anomaly.
- Debris field detected, suggesting a possible explosion in orbit.
- SpaceX is investigating the anomaly impacting its broadband satellite.

SpaceX has reported a loss of communication with one of its Starlink satellites, which is now descending towards Earth due to an unexplained anomaly. The satellite experienced a sudden drop in altitude and created a field of debris, raising concerns it may have exploded in orbit. Initial observations suggest an internal energetic source, rather than an external collision, may be the cause.
SpaceX engineers are urgently investigating the root cause and are implementing software enhancements to bolster protections against such events. The company emphasized its commitment to space safety, despite the incident occurring shortly after another Starlink satellite narrowly avoided a collision with a Chinese satellite. As the number of satellites in orbit grows, tracking and collision avoidance become increasingly critical.




