Boeing’s Intelsat 33e Satellite Mysteriously Shatters in Orbit
Summary: The Boeing-manufactured Intelsat 33e satellite unexpectedly broke apart in orbit, scattering at least 20 pieces of space debris. The satellite, which provided broadband to Europe, Africa, and Asia, experienced an “anomaly” and was declared a total loss shortly after. The U.S. Space Force confirmed the breakup but detected no immediate threats from the debris. Boeing and Intelsat are investigating the incident, marking the second failure in Boeing’s EpicNG satellite platform. The event adds to the growing concern over space debris and Boeing’s ongoing corporate challenges.
A Boeing-made satellite has broken apart in orbit, and the cause remains unknown. The Intelsat 33e, a large communications satellite, disintegrated over the weekend, scattering at least 20 pieces of debris into space. The satellite, which provided broadband to Europe, Africa, and Asia, ceased functioning on Saturday (Oct. 19) due to an unspecified “anomaly,” with its complete loss confirmed by Monday (Oct. 21).
The U.S. Space Force confirmed the satellite had broken into at least 20 fragments, though they noted no immediate threats from the debris. Intelsat is working with Boeing and government agencies to analyze the situation, with a Failure Review Board investigating the cause.
The Intelsat 33e, weighing 14,600 pounds (6,600 kg) and launched in 2016, was part of Boeing’s EpicNG platform. This marks the second failure in the platform after the IS-29e satellite also malfunctioned, likely due to a micrometeoroid strike or solar storm. These failures have drastically shortened the satellites’ expected 15-year lifespan.
This incident adds to Boeing’s growing list of challenges, including issues with its Starliner mission, legal trouble over the 737 Max crashes, and a strike of 300,000 workers at its manufacturing plant. The destruction also contributes to the increasing problem of space debris, with space agencies struggling to track over 30,000 pieces of large space junk. Scientists are exploring various methods to clear Earth’s orbit, including nets, robots with claws, or tether systems.