Boeing-made satellite breaks up in space

25/10/2024 6:13

        A communications satellite built by Boeing has fallen apart while in orbit, according to Intelsat, the satellite's operator.
        The Intelsat 33e satellite experienced an "anomaly" on Saturday, Oct. 19, resulting in a loss of power and service to its customers in Europe, Africa and parts of the Asia-Pacific region, according to Intelsat.
        Following the outage, the company announced on Monday the anomaly had resulted in the "total loss" of the satellite.
        "We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations," said the company.
        A Failure Review Board has been convened to complete a comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly.
        Intelsat said migration and service restoration plans are well underway across the Intelsat fleet and third-party satellites.
        The U.S. Space Forces (USSF) has confirmed the breakup of the Intelsat 33e satellite in geostationary orbit on Oct. 19, saying it is currently tracking around 20 associated pieces.
        USSF said it has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain.
        Intelsat 33e, designed and manufactured by Boeing Space Systems, was launched in August 2016 and entered service in January 2017.