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Space Particle Wrecks Spanish Satellite
17 Jan
Summary
- A Spanish military satellite was written off due to a space particle impact.
- The impact, though from a tiny particle, caused non-recoverable damage.
- A replacement satellite is being procured and expected to be insurance-covered.
The SpainSat NG 2 military communications satellite has been deemed irreparable after a space particle collision. Launched in October 2025, the spacecraft suffered an impact from a "space particle" while transitioning to its operational geostationary orbit. Engineers from Indra Group, the majority owner of Hisdesat, concluded that the damage is non-recoverable, effectively ending the satellite's mission.
Although the impacting particle was estimated to be millimetric and weigh only a few grams, its high-speed collision with a critical area of the satellite caused catastrophic, irreversible damage. The spacecraft, now in a highly eccentric orbit, remains intact and stable, posing no threat to other space operations. This incident occurred at an altitude of approximately 50,000 kilometers, suggesting the impact may have been from a micrometeoroid rather than orbital debris.
Indra Group has begun procuring a replacement, SpainSat NG 3, with insurance anticipated to cover the expenses. Meanwhile, the original SpainSat (launched 2006) and the SpainSat NG 1 (launched January 2025) continue to provide essential communication services until the new satellite is operational. The delivery of the SpainSat NG series spacecraft, ordered from Airbus Defence and Space in 2019, experienced delays.
