A Starlink Satellite Suffers an Anomaly
However, a sudden drop in altitude and creation of a debris field suggest otherwise. An anomaly caused a sudden drop in altitude and created a debris field. This mishap comes a week after SpaceX reported a near miss with a Chinese satellite.
What Happened to the Starlink Satellite?
According to SpaceX, the satellite, Starlink 35956, suffered an anomaly that caused a loss of communications, a drop in altitude, and the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects. Meanwhile, space-tracking company Leo Labs says the anomaly was likely caused by an internal energetic source, not a collision.
Consequences of the Anomaly
Consequently, the incident highlights the growing concerns about the increasing density of satellites in low Earth orbit. By the end of this decade, there could be as many as 70,000 satellites operating in that same region, mostly in the service of space internet constellations like Starlink.
What’s Next?
In addition, the incident serves as a reminder of the need for better regulation and safety measures in space exploration. As the number of satellites in orbit continues to grow, so does the risk of collisions and other safety hazards.
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