SpaceX has lost control of Starlink satellite 35956, which is now falling back to Earth following an anomaly that resulted in a sudden loss of communications and a drop in altitude.
The incident involved the venting of the propulsion tank and the release of a small number of trackable low-relative-velocity objects, indicating a possible explosion, according to the details provided. SpaceX stated that the event poses no threat to the International Space Station crew and that the satellite and debris will burn up in the atmosphere within weeks. This incident occurred one week after SpaceX reported a near miss with a Chinese satellite, raising concerns about the increasing congestion in low Earth orbit.
A space-tracking firm, Leo Labs, determined that the anomaly was likely caused by an internal energetic source rather than a collision. Its radar network detected tens of objects around the satellite after the event, providing critical insights into the nature of the anomaly. The incident took place at an altitude of 418 km (260 miles) in low Earth orbit.
Low Earth orbit is becoming increasingly crowded, with more than 24,000 objects—including satellites and debris—currently tracked. By the end of the decade, that region could host up to 70,000 satellites, primarily from space-internet constellations such as Starlink, launched by organizations in the US, China, and Europe. The growing number of satellites in low Earth orbit raises concerns about the potential for collisions and the creation of more debris.
