Starlink satellite explodes, crash in orbit for Musk’s constellation

The violent depressurization caused a rapid loss of altitude of approximately four kilometers and the release of a limited number of traceable fragments into space. The unit is no longer able to maneuver and has entered an uncontrolled rotation phase, destined for a destructive re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere within a few weeks. SpaceX was keen to point out that the decay trajectory will pass below the orbit of the International Space Station, excluding immediate risks for the crew of the orbiting laboratory.

To ensure the safety of the space scenario, the operator is coordinating debris monitoring operations in close collaboration with NASA and the US Space Force. It is not the first time that the vast constellation, which now numbers over 9,000 units, has had to manage the early withdrawal of its vehicles due to technical defects or potential risks, but public communication on this specific event was necessary precisely because of the generation of orbital debris, a risk factor that the company is committed to mitigating as the largest satellite operator in the world.