Tech Desk : dhakamirror.com
A Boeing-manufactured communications satellite, Intelsat 33e, has disintegrated in orbit, says The Verge.
The incident was first reported by Jalopnik on Saturday, and later confirmed by Intelsat. The company said the satellite had stopped working due to an “anomaly,” and declared it a “total loss” on Monday.
“We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyse data and observations,” Intelsat said. The company has since established a board to conduct a “comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.”
The satellite’s breakup doesn’t have great timing for Boeing, following the company’s troubled Starliner mission and a criminal fraud charge over 737 Max plane crashes.
It’s unclear how many pieces there are, as satellite-tracking company ExoAnalytic Solutions says it’s monitoring 57 pieces of debris, Space News reports.
Intelsat 33e launched in 2016 to provide communications across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The satellite experienced a propulsion issue shortly after launch and reached orbit later than expected. Another propulsion problem in 2017 decreased its estimated 15-year lifespan by 3.5 years. Intelsat 29e — a satellite Boeing also made — was declared a “total loss” in 2019 after just three years in space.
