SpaceX said it has experienced its first reported malfunction involving a Starlink satellite that left the spacecraft uncontrollable, underscoring the risks associated with operating thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit as the company presses ahead with ambitious expansion plans.
The company said the satellite suffered an “anomaly” that caused it to vent argon from its propulsion system, sending it into an uncontrolled trajectory. SpaceX described the incident as “the release of a small number of trackable low relative velocity objects,” a situation that effectively turns the satellite into temporary space debris.
SpaceX said it is still investigating what caused the problem on the spacecraft, identified as satellite 35956. The company sought to reassure astronauts and regulators by noting that “the satellite’s current trajectory will place it below the ISS, posing no risk to the orbiting lab or its crew,” adding that the satellite is expected to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after several weeks.
The incident comes as Starlink’s constellation grows to more than 9,000 satellites, many of which perform complex orbital manoeuvres. SpaceX has applied for permission to deploy up to 15,000 direct-to-cell satellites designed to provide mobile phone connectivity from space, raising questions about the cumulative risks of congestion and debris in already crowded orbits.
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The malfunction also comes against a backdrop of broader changes in human spaceflight, with the United States planning to develop a replacement for the aging International Space Station by 2030. As satellite launches accelerate and space becomes more commercially crowded, experts say even isolated failures could draw closer scrutiny from regulators concerned about long-term safety and sustainability in orbit.