Boeing-Built Intelsat 33e Explodes in Orbit, Creating Over 50 Debris Pieces

Oct 23, 2024, 01:00 PM

A communications satellite built by Boeing, Intelsat 33e (IS-33e), has exploded in geostationary orbit after experiencing an anomaly, creating more than 50 pieces of space debris. The 14,600-pound satellite, launched in 2016 alongside Intelsat 36 on an Ariane 5 rocket, provided broadband, telecom, and broadcasting services to Europe, Africa, and much of Asia. It has been declared a total loss by its operator, Intelsat. The U.S. Space Force is tracking the debris caused by the breakup. This incident marks the second failure of a Boeing-built satellite for Intelsat, following the loss of IS-29e in 2019.