Intelsat's Boeing-Built Satellite Breaks Apart in Orbit; Space Force Tracking Over 50 Debris Pieces

Oct 23, 2024, 01:38 AM

Intelsat's Boeing-built communications satellite, Intelsat 33e, launched in 2016 and weighing 14,600 pounds, has broken apart in geostationary orbit earlier this week, resulting in the loss of the satellite and creating more than 50 pieces of debris, according to reports from Intelsat and monitoring by the U.S. Space Force, which is tracking the debris field. The satellite, which provided broadband, internet, and phone communication services to regions including Europe, Africa, and Asia, experienced an anomaly leading to the breakup. Intelsat confirmed the satellite is a 'total loss', and the cause of the failure is under investigation. This incident mirrors the 2019 failure of Intelsat 29e, also built by Boeing, raising concerns about the reliability of the satellite series.